The "Unity Week" or more specifically the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an opportunity for reflection, and above all to pray before the sad fact of our disobedience to Christ who wants us together in unity.
This year, the week has a particular significance because it is a 100 th anniversary. The "Octave for Unity of the Church" was held for the first time in 1908 at the initiative of Father Paul Wattson, Episcopal priest and cofounder of the Society of the Atonement (Brothers and Sisters Franciscans of Reconciliation). The English word "atonement" can be read at-one-ment ", thus trying to say" once again become a "what is the meaning of the French word" reconciliation. " This week, the Catholic Church rightly proposes to use the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation.
World Concern is not just that of the Catholic Church but also the World Council of Churches (WCC was founded in 1948), which is a forum aimed unity of Church of Christ. It is a place where the 347 member churches can sit and talk and reflect, pray, work together. Commission on Faith and Order (CFC) is a key role to play. Its purpose is to bring together theologians of various communions to study the theological and practical difficulties that prevent the unit. The document "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry" is since 1982 a document of great moral authority.
It was not until 2011 that the Orthodox and other Christians will celebrate Easter on the same date. It seems that great efforts of reconciliation should address this point. Unfortunately, if an astronomical method to decide the date of Easter was established jointly, it would require a greater adjustment from our Orthodox brothers ...
An interesting initiative is the establishment of a joint calendar of saints. It seems to me that many non-Catholic Christians who shed their blood for their faith in Christ during the 20 th century are worthy of worship as Catholics. I am full of admiration for the photo of the gate of the Abbey of St. Maurice Catholic, Switzerland (http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/martyrsdoor.html). Each stone is engraved with the name of a martyr of the faith, religious affiliations and backgrounds are very diverse. The FCC invites the churches to look elsewhere than in their court to find witnesses to the faith.
One area where cooperation between the Churches is easy and rewarding work for social justice, especially for education and advocacy. In Canada, Kairos is one such model. If I understand correctly, the Catholic Church is not a full member of the World Council of Churches. But it is surely Kairos, because the president is a religious Catholic priest, and three of the ten members are instances Catholics Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada, the Canadian Religious Conference, Development and Peace (which I am an active member, as secretary of the Diocesan Council francophone d'Ottawa).
The FCC considers might be to agree on the content of the apostolic faith by agreeing on understanding the Nicene-Constantinople, which is a summary of the essentials of the faith . The churches have united or uniting have many challenges, and the dialogue which brings together and what divides us is far from achieving spectacular results, but we must hope and persevere. We are invited to quitting, preparing to put aside superficial identity marks for sticking to the essentials of a common faith to retain or regain. It is not a search of the lowest common denominator, but to reconnect with the apostolic and patristic faith, without sacrificing the truth.
It is far (barring a miracle) to see the light at the end of the tunnel ecumenical, but we are not wrong in praying together for the project to the Father of us gather in His Son come true one day.
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