Join the Church Unity Octave, January 18-25

Today is the former feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome, which was combined with the feast of his Chair at Antioch on February 22nd. The combined feast, now simply titled the Chair of St. Peter, is kept on the February date. Though the January feast has moved, today still marks the opening of the annual Church Unity Octave, which ends on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25th. The Octave is a yearly event on which we pray for the unity of all people under the Holy See: for other Christians, for the Orthodox churches, for non-Christians and the non-religious, and for all who are separated from the one, true, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Each day of the Octave is devoted to a different group of our separated brethren, and you can find the intentions and prayers for each day below.

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.

℣. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
℟. And upon this rock I will build My Church.

January 18th: The union of all Christians in the one true Faith and in the Church;

January 19th: The return of separated Eastern Christians to communion with the Holy See;

January 20th: The reconciliation of Anglicans with the Holy See;

January 21st: The reconciliation of European Protestants with the Holy See;

January 22nd: That American Christians become one in union with the Chair of Peter;

January 23rd: The restoration of lapsed Catholics to the sacramental life of the Church;

January 24th: That the Jewish people come into their inheritance in Jesus Christ;

January 25th: The missionary extension of Christ’s kingdom throughout the world.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine Apostles: Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will; Who livest and reignest ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady, Help of Christians

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, thou seest how the Catholic Faith is assailed by the devil and the world – that Faith in which we purpose, by the help of God, to live and die. Do thou, O Help of Christians, renew thy victories of old, for the salvation of thy children. To thee we entrust our firm purpose of never joining assemblies of heretics. Do thou, all holy, offer to thy Divine Son our resolutions, and obtain from Him the graces necessary for us to keep them unto the end. Bring consolation to the visible head of the Church, support the Catholic Episcopate, protect the clergy and the people who proclaim thee Queen. Hasten, by the power of thy prayers, the day when all nations shall be gathered around the Supreme Pastor. Amen. +