Ecumenism

One of the principal motives for the convening of the Second Vatican Council was precisely that of promoting and working for Christian unity. How can the Church proclaim a Gospel of communion and unity when she herself is divided? That would be a great contradiction and a betrayal to Christ and to the world.

In his encyclical on the commitment to Ecumenism, Pope John Paul II identifies five areas on which consensus of faith among Christ's disciples is to be reached, before declaring that Christ's Church is in fact fully united.

"(1) The relationship between Sacred Scripture, as the highest authority in matters of faith and Sacred Tradition, as indispensable to the interpretation of the Word of God; (2) the Eucharist, as the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, an offering of praise to the Father, the sacrificial memorial and Real Presence of Christ and the sanctifying outpouring of the Holy Spirit; (3) Ordination, as a Sacrament, to the threefold ministry of the episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate; (4) the Magisterium of the Church, entrusted to the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him, understood as a responsibility and an authority exercised in the name of Christ for teaching and safeguarding the faith; (5) the Virgin Mary, as Mother of God and Icon of the Church, the spiritual Mother who intercedes for Christ's disciples and for all humanity" (Ut Unum Sint, 79).

Even if this journey along the path of unity and communion is difficult, yet there is every reason to hope that the same Trinitarian unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is enlightening it by its wisdom and guiding it by its love. The Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, Unitatis Redintegratio, shows that before being theological, ecumenism has to be spiritual. Prayer, conversion and sanctity have the power to devoutly accord the Christian faithful with God and themselves (see Acts 1, 14). "This 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).

Lord Jesus, transform the minds and hearts of those who believe in you, so that through your Spirit of truth and holiness, they may become your one visible Church. Amen.