Saturday, July 28, 2018

131. Christian unity


Christian unity

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 131
Ave Maria series

131  What must we to do for the unity of Christians?

In word and deed we must obey Christ, who expressly wills “that they all may be one” (John 17:23).  
[820-822]




Working on Christian Unity: 2009 Participants in Ecumenism in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, Chile, 2009. …..131

Christian unity is the business of all Christians, regardless of how young or old they are.  Unity was one of Jesus’ most important concerns.  He prayed to the Father, “that they may all be one…so that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17:21).  Divisions are like wounds on the Body of Christ; they hurt and fester.  Divisions lead to enmities and weaken the faith and credibility of Christians.  Overcoming the scandal of separation requires the conversion of all concerned but also the knowledge of one’s own faith convictions, dialogues with others, and especially prayer in common, and collaboration among Christians in serving mankind.  Those in authority in the Church must not let the theological dialogue be interrupted.

Ecumenism (from Greek oikumene=the inhabited earth, the globe): efforts to unify divided Christians.

The Roman Catholic Church has, since the Second Vatican Council, reached out to Christian bodies, seeking reconciliation to the greatest degree possible.

[820-822]

THE CHURCH IS ONE

Toward unity
820 "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time."(Unitatis redintegratio 4 § 3)277  Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her.  This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me."(John 17:21; compare Hebrews 7:25)278 The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.(compare Unitatis redintegratio 1)279 –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

821 Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:

- a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity;(compare Unitatis redintegratio  6 )280

- conversion of heart as the faithful "try to live holier lives according to the Gospel";(Unitatis redintegratio 7 § 3)281 for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ's gift which causes divisions;

- prayer in common, because "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism;"'(Unitatis redintegratio 8 § 1)282

- fraternal knowledge of each other;(compare Unitatis redintegratio 9)283

- ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests;(compare Unitatis redintegratio 10)284

- dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities;(compare Unitatis redintegratio 4; 9; 11)285

- collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind.(compare Unitatis redintegratio 12)286  "Human service" is the idiomatic phrase.--CCC

822 Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike."(Unitatis redintegratio 5)287 But we must realize "that this holy objective - the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ - transcends human powers and gifts." That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit."(Unitatis redintegratio 24 § 2)288 –CCC

ECUMENICAL  TE DEUM

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