Question for Day 1:

Do I readily accept those who appear different to me?

Bible Quote for Day 1:

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

Psalm 133:1

Prayer for Day 1:

Almighty God,

we know you want all Christians to live together in unity.

Help us all in our daily lives to take away all intolerance and suspicion of each other so we can all live together in peace. Amen                   

(Author Unknown)

Question for Day 2:

How can I develop unity within my community?

Bible Quote for Day 2:

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV

Prayer for Day 2:

Father,

unite all the congregations of the Church

in Jesus your Son, our Lord and Saviour.

May your will be done among us

and your kingdom come soon,

through him who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.

Amen             

(Fr Alex Reid and Gerry Reynolds)

Question for Day 3:

When can I break down divisions and show hospitality?

Bible Quote for Day 3:

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

Prayer for Day 3:

Give thanks for all who break through barriers of difference,

even in small ways, by ordinary acts of friendship and welcome.

Hospitable God, give us the wisdom and courage to welcome difference

and diversity and to see all people as your beloved children. Amen               

(Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)

Question for Day 4:

How do I share my talents and gifts to build the kingdom of God amongst those in my life?

Bible Quote for Day 4:

“Christ is like a single body which has many parts. It is still one body even though it is made up of different parts. In the same way all of us…have been baptised into one body by the same spirit and we have all been given the one spirit to drink. For the body itself is not made up of one part but of many parts. If the foot were to say, ‘because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not keep it from being part of the body. If an ear were to say, ‘because I am not an eye I don’t  belong to the body’, that  would not keep it from being part of the body. If the whole body were just an eye how could it hear? If it were only an ear how would it smell? As it is however, God put every part in the body just as he wanted it to be. There would not be a body if it were all only one part! As it is, there are many parts but one body”.

(1 Corinthians 12: 12 – 20)

Prayer for Day 4:

In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we pray first for unity in our hearts – between our purpose and Yours, between our desires and our knowledge of what is right, between our aspirations and our will, between our intentions and our actions.

Amen

Question for Day 5:

How can I increase humility and patience in me?

Bible Quote for Day 5:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

Ephesians 4:1-2 ESV

Prayer for Day 5:

Lord we pray for the unity of your church.

Help us see ourselves as rays from one sun,

branches of a single tree,

and streams flowing from one river.

May we remain united to you and to each other,

because you are our common source of life;

and may we send out your light

drawing our inspiration and joy from you. Amen   

(St Cyprian of Carthage)

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Bishop Richard Challoner

During his lifetime and after his death, he was considered not only as a model of every virtue but as a saint. We are asked to pray that our Blessed Lord, through the Pope, may reward him further, by raising him to the altars of the Church as a Saint.

Prayer for the Beatification of Bishop Richard Challoner

O God who made your servant Richard,

a true and faithful pastor of your little flock in England,

raise him, we beseech you, to the altars of thy Church,

that we, who have been taught by his word and example

may invoke his name in heaven,

for the return of our country to belief in the Gospel,

and to the unity of all Christians in the one Church of Jesus Christ.

We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Bishop Richard Challoner

Pray for us