Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity [Day 4]
According to Gerald J. Mendoza in Homiletic and Pastoral Review, ignorance and apathy in our parishes push Catholics out of the Church. In the evangelical Protestant sects, ex-Catholics find some measure of the fellowship, and discipleship, and evangelical fervor lacking at home. What a disgrace, that baptised Christian Catholics should feel the need to leave Christ's own Church, in order to seek Him!
In some parishes, the Church Militant still shows signs of life, however, with conversions going the other way, too. The God Fearin' Fiddler talks about his conversion from the Presbyterian Church of America here, the Tiber Jumper talks about his reversion from the charismatic movement here, Fr Alvin Kimel talks about his conversion from the Episcopal Church here, and there are a whole bunch of other conversion stories here and here.
Bring them all home Lord! May all that seek Thee, find Thee, and all that they need, in Thy Church. O Lord, please help Thy Church to provide for them. In Jesus' Holy Name: mercifully send Thy Holy Spirit to help us! Angels and saints, in His Charity please pray for us!
+++
ANTIPHON: That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.
V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
R. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
For the return of all Protestants throughout the world to the unity of the Catholic Church.
Let us pray. Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine apostles, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you;" regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which is according to Thy will, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever.
O gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for Thy holy Catholic Church; that Thou wouldst be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it it in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, The Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In some parishes, the Church Militant still shows signs of life, however, with conversions going the other way, too. The God Fearin' Fiddler talks about his conversion from the Presbyterian Church of America here, the Tiber Jumper talks about his reversion from the charismatic movement here, Fr Alvin Kimel talks about his conversion from the Episcopal Church here, and there are a whole bunch of other conversion stories here and here.
Bring them all home Lord! May all that seek Thee, find Thee, and all that they need, in Thy Church. O Lord, please help Thy Church to provide for them. In Jesus' Holy Name: mercifully send Thy Holy Spirit to help us! Angels and saints, in His Charity please pray for us!
+++
ANTIPHON: That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.
V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
R. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
For the return of all Protestants throughout the world to the unity of the Catholic Church.
Let us pray. Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine apostles, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you;" regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which is according to Thy will, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever.
O gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for Thy holy Catholic Church; that Thou wouldst be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it it in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, The Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Labels: converts, lapsed Catholics, novena, prayer, Protestants, unity
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home