Prayerbook, Litanies, Litany for the Unity of the Church

Praise

Let us give thanks to God for making us one with himself and with each other by the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross:

For our unity in you and your abiding presence in the Church,

R. We thank you, Lord.

For the work of the Holy Spirit renewing the life and sense of mission of the Church throughout the world,

R. We thank you, Lord.

For the inspiration of prophets and visionaries constantly calling the Church to renewal,

R. We thank you, Lord.

For the fruits brought forth by the suffering of your Church, filling up what is lacking for the whole Body and strengthening its union with you,

R. We thank you, Lord.

For all your gifts to us in spite of our divisions, and for teaching us to share them with one another in the ecumenical movement,

R. We thank you, Lord.

Repentance

Let us come before our Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and humbly confess our sins:

For our failure to take to heart your prayer for unity on the eve of your passion, and the sufferings we cause by our divisions,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

For our indifference and complacency, our ignorance and prejudice against each other, our lack of humility and unwillingness to learn from each other,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

For our bitter controversies, our sarcasm and narrow-mindedness toward each other, our acts of hostility and violence against one another,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

For our erecting barriers of race and class, nation and culture among your children,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

For our lack of love and prayer for one another,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

For our lack of zeal and our hindering the course of the Gospel by our divisions,

R. Forgive us, Lord.

Intercession

Let us ask God the Holy Spirit to kindle in us the burning fire of his love, so that all in his Church that does not conform to his will, may die, and the things of the Spirit may live and grow in it:

That the Holy Spirit inspire all who work and pray for Christian unity and guide them in all truth,

R. Hear us, Lord.

That the Holy Spirit open our hearts to Jesus Christ, offering through us his prayer for the unity of his people,

R. Hear us, Lord.

That the Holy Spirit lead us to share more fully in our Lord's suffering brought upon him by our divisions and unfaithfulness, so that we may also share in the power of the resurrection,

R. Hear us, Lord.

That the Church be ready to be broken and given for the needs of the world, so that the kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdom of our God,

R. Hear us, Lord.