The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity worked with the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches for the preparation of materials for the week of prayer.
The daily themes are:
Jan. 18: Christian communities face to face with old and new divisions.
Jan. 19: Christians face to face with war and violence.
Jan. 20: Christians face to face with economic injustice and poverty.
Jan. 21: Christians face to face with ecological crisis.
Jan. 22: Christians face to face with discrimination and social prejudice.
Jan. 23: Christians face to face with disease and suffering.
Jan. 24: Christians face to face with a plurality of religions.
Jan. 25: Christian proclamation of hope in a world of separation.
Because we follow Christ and His Church we "pray that all may be one," without forgetting the part that says "so that the world may believe that we are sent."
The Holy Father said: "Let us too welcome this invitation and pray with greater intensity that Christians walk in a resolute way toward full communion with each other. I especially address Catholics throughout the world that, united in prayer, they do not tire to work to overcome obstacles that still impede full communion among Christ's disciples. The ecumenical task is even more urgent today, to give to our society, which is marked by tragic conflicts and lacerating divisions, a sign and an impulse toward reconciliation and peace.
In our particular circumstance we can make a contribution to the work of Christian unity. As we know Christian unity has a priority of the Church through the centuries; it was reaffirmed as a priority of the Second Vatican and it was evidenced during the 26 years of Pope John Paul IIs papacy. Christian unity is a hallmark of Pope Benedict. So I ask, where are you going to make a contribution, with grace, in the work of Christian unity in 2009?
The Pontifical Council for Christian Unity has a useful resource page.
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