January 18 to 25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the northern hemisphere. The Holy Father drew attention to it at the end of today's General Audience, saying:
"The day after tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 18, marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which this year has special significance because a hundred years have passed since its inception. The theme is the invitation of St. Paul to the Thessalonians: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17); an invitation which I gladly make my own and address to the whole Church.
"It is indeed necessary to pray without ceasing, insistently asking God for the great gift of unity among all the Lord's disciples. May the endless strength of the Holy Spirit move us to a sincere commitment to seek unity, so that all together we may profess that Jesus is the one Saviour of the world."
This year's Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, are based on an original draft prepared by the Greymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in New York. The first draft comes from a different country each year. This year's theme, as the Pope said, is "Pray without ceasing."
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