This is the motto for this year’s week of prayer for Christian unity which is traditionally celebrated from 18th to 25th January every year. This traditional period was suggested by Paul Wattson of Graymoor, the Founder of the Society of the Antonement and Father of the Church Unity Octave, in 1908. The period chosen by Fr Wattson covered the days between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. Thus, it deliberately has a symbolic meaning. The context for this year’s motto is the following biblical verse taken from the First Letter of Saint Peter: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Irrespective of one’s cynical remarks regarding Christianity and the Church, one cannot help it but acknowledge, if not praise, the wonderful way certain Christians are declaring the wonderful deeds of God, precisely by heroically offering their very lives for Jesus Christ. Ecumenism of the blood is the bottom line through which Christianity is getting more and more credible in our indifferent world wherein, as Pope Francis said in his peace message of this year that some are finding it so easy to simply “listen[ing] to the radio, read[ing] the newspapers or watch[ing] television, but they do so mechanically and without engagement. [How sad that] they are vaguely aware of the tragedies afflicting humanity, [because] they have no sense of involvement or compassion. Theirs is the attitude of those who know, but keep their gaze, their thoughts and their actions focused on themselves” (no. 3).
Instead, these courageous Christians, our brothers and sisters in the faith, lead us back to our Christian belief and help us to recommit ourselves to Christ and his Church. Theirs is a witness we cannot absolutely ignore.
Recently, I had the joy of reading Pope Francis’ address to the members of Charismatic Renewal in the Holy Spirit who were assembled for the 38th Italian National Convocation held in Rome in July last year. In his straightforward and moving speech, the Holy Father made us more aware that the common witness of martyrdom is the most compelling prayer that can unify us as the One Church of Jesus Christ.
“[There must be] unity, because the blood of today’s martyrs makes us one. There is the ecumenism of blood. We know that when those who hate Jesus Christ kill a Christian, before killing him, they do not ask him: ‘Are you Lutheran, are you Orthodox, are you Evangelical, are you Baptist, are you Methodist?’ You are Christian! And they sever the head. They are not confused; they know there is a root there, which gives life to all of us and which is called Jesus Christ, and that it is the Holy Spirit that leads us to unity! Those who hate Jesus Christ led by the Evil One do not make a mistake. They know and therefore kill without asking questions.
And this is something that I entrust to you. Perhaps I have already told you this, but it is a true story. In Hamburg, a city in Germany, there was a parish priest who studied the writings to carry forward the Beatification of a priest killed by Nazism; he was guillotined. The reason: he taught children the catechism. And, as he continued his research, the priest discovered that five minutes later a Lutheran pastor was guillotined for the same reason. And the blood of both was mixed: both were martyrs, both were martyrs life?”
When listening to such a heart-touching speech I am moved to pray: Lord help us allow your Spirit to work among us and lead us forward together. Help us leave O Lord our differences to one side. Help us walk with what we have in common, which is enough: there is the Holy Trinity; there is Baptism, there is the common witness of martyrs. Help us go forward in the strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
Paola