St. Peter's Chair in Rome

The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince: that the dignity of priesthood should be to him forever.

Today marks the opening of another Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, always observed from 18-25 January, that is, from the feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome to the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. The dates in themselves say something rather pointed, I think, in terms of what the Catholic Church understands the ecumenical movement to be all about:

The authority of the Roman Pontiff...

Conversion...

So let us pray for that "full ecclesiastical communion" of which Vatican Council II speaks in its decree on ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio (no. 3).

Let us pray for that day when "all Christians will at last, in a common celebration of the Eucharist, be gathered into the one and only Church [i.e. the Catholic Church] in that unity which Christ bestowed on His Church [i.e. the Catholic Church] from the beginning" (UR, no. 4).

Perhaps the great intercessions of the Good Friday liturgy are pertinent this week as well. The prayer for the conversion of the Jews was changed last year by Pope Benedict XVI, but I only have the old one to hand.

Let us pray also for heretics and schismatics: that our Lord God would rescue them from all their errors, and recall them to their holy Mother, the Catholic and Apostolic Church: Almighty and everlasting God, Who savest all and wouldst that none should perish: turn Thy gaze to souls deceived and led astray by the devil; may they cast off the evil of their heresy and in true repentance of their errors return to the unity of Thy truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ...

Let us pray also for the Jews: that our God and Lord would remove the veil from their hearts: that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ: Almighty and everlasting God, Who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the Jews: hear our prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people: that acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be rescued from their darkness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ...

Let us pray also for pagans: that almighty God would remove iniquity from their hearts: that, putting aside their idols, they may be converted to the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ our God and Lord: Almighty and everlasting God, Who ever seekest not the death but the life of sinners: mercifully hear our prayer, and deliver them from the worship of idols: and join them to Thy holy Church for the praise and glory of Thy name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ...

In view of the promising steps made within the last few years, special intentions this year should include the complete restoration to Catholic Unity of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, and of the Traditional Anglican Communion. God willing we will see many souls return swiftly home to the one and only Church of Christ.