Without the search for unity faith would be abandoned

 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins tomorrow on January 18th (The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter) and ends on January 25th (The Conversion of St. Paul).

The Year of Faith which Pope Benedict XVI has given us is closely connected with the Second Vatican Council not only from the temporal viewpoint but also by its content. It was in fact inaugurated on the day of the commemoration of the opening of the Council 50 years ago and was motivated by the intention to put its principal magisterial affirmations into practice, seeing them as the crucial reference point for the mission of the Church in our day too. 

Read more at: The Vatican Today 

 

 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has Franciscan Origins. 

Origins, meaning of week of prayer for Christian unity traced to American priest 

 

The traditional prayers for this Octave of Unity are below:

 

THE OCTAVE PRAYERS

ANTIPHON: 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.

V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
R. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
[Here is brought to mind the intention for the day's prayer.]
January 18: For the return of the "other sheep" to the One Fold of our Lord Jesus Christ.
January 19: For the return of the Eastern Orthodox Christians to communion with the Apostolic See.
January 20: For the return of the Anglicans to the authority of the Vicar of Christ.
January 21: For the return of all Protestants throughout the world to the unity of the Catholic Church.
January 22: That Christians in America may be one, in union with the Chair of Saint Peter.
January 23: That lapsed Catholics will return to the Sacraments of the Church.
January 24: That the Jewish people will be converted to the Catholic Faith.
January 25: That missionary zeal will conquer the world for Christ.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine Apostles: Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will; Who livest and reignest ever, one God, world without end. Amen.