CHURCH UNITY OCTAVE - FOURTH DAY

         CHURCH UNITY OCTAVE

                        PRAYER

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. (John 17:21)

V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,

R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.

                  Let us pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst unto Thine Apostles peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God, forever and ever Amen.

          Fourth Day of the Octave

                        January 21

                Intention of the day

That the Lutherans and other Protestants Of continental Europe may find their way back to Holy Church.

Prayer for the Conversion of Protestants

O most beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast redeemed the world at the price of Thy Most Precious Blood, look down in Thy mercy upon the Christian peoples of Europe, who are still outside Thy Fold, and let the full blaze of the light of Thy truth shine upon them. Multiply, O God, the true messengers of Thy Gospel, inspire them with fervor, make them fruitful in good works, and bless with Thy grace their zeal and their labors, so that the separated Christians of Europe may be fully converted to Thee, their Creator and Redeemer. Recall the stray sheep to Thy Fold, and the wanderers to the bosom of Thy one true Church. Hasten, O dearest Savior, the happy advent of Thy Kingdom on earth, draw all men to the treasures of Thy Sacred Heart, so that all may share in the priceless benefits of Thy Redemption in the eternal happiness of Heaven. Amen.

     Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of Sinners, we beseech thee to look with pitying eyes upon the Protestant peoples of Europe. O Seat of Wisdom, enlighten their minds, so that they may come to know that the Catholic Church is the one, True Church of Christ. Complete their conversion by obtaining for them the grace to believe every truth of our Holy Faith. Once more united to us by the bonds of divine charity, they will sing with us forever thy glorious praises. "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all error in the whole world." Amen.

V. Our Lady of the Atonement intercede for us.

R. That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, "That all may be one."

Prayer to St. Agnes on her feast

O singular example of virtue, glorious Saint Agnes, the lively faith that animated thee from thy childhood rendered thee so acceptable to God that thou didst merit the crown of martyrdom. Obtain for us, we pray, the grace to preserve entire in our hearts the Catholic Faith, and to seek the conversion to the faith of our Christian brethren now separated from us, so that all may become Christians not only in word but also in deed. Pray for us today that, as we confess Jesus openly in the face of men, Jesus may give favorable testimony of us before His Father in heaven. Amen.