Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18 – 25, 2024
by Sr. Mary Ann Zimmer, ND
This year’s international Theme:
“You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 – Jesus quoting Deuteronomy)
What is the importance of this observance at this time? As Fr González-Ferrer reflects on decades of dialogue among the once hostile Christian denominations, “This road map from conflict to communion through the art of dialogue is something that the world needs desperately because no one is talking to each other”, whether that be in the family, in politics or even between nations, he says. He observes that the movement for Christian Unity has engaged in practices of dialogue that “the whole of humanity can benefit from”.
The modern movement for Christian Unity was actually inspired by a critique by non-Christians in the world’s mission fields in the 19th century. “How,” they asked, “could these Christian missionaries all preach that Jesus taught love of all? They fought among themselves about who was better and criticized their differences?”
Recognizing that their own witness was hampering their mission, a group formed from numerous denominations to promote Christian unity. Official participation by Roman Catholics was stymied by concerns over what kind of united Church this movement envisioned. Although the idea was promoted by individual participants, official Roman Catholic participation only began with the era of the Second Vatican Council inthe 1960s with the leadership of Pope John XXIII. In the meantime, however, some were inspired by the tradition prayer contained in the Catholic Church’s ritual books that “our Lord would grant to his Church on earth that peace and unity which were in his mind and purpose, when, on the eve of His Passion, He prayed that all might be one.”
In the early 20th century the Graymoor Franciscans of New York embraced Christian unity as their mission. They began the observance and promotion of annual prayer for Christian unity with great dedication. Today the World Council of Churches and the Vatican jointly sponsor the weeklong observance.