Prayers for the Chair of Unity Octave (Friars Press, Lafayette, Louisiana)

PRAYERS FOR THE CHAIR OF UNITY OCTAVE
(January 18 through 25)
 
Order of commemoration:
1. Sing: Faith of Our Fathers P. 2
2. Recite the Unity Octave Prayer P. 2
3. Announce Intention of the Day
4. Prayer for Unity among Traditional
Catholics P. 18
_____________________________
Faith of our Fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword!
O, how our hearts beat high with joy, When e’er
we hear that glorious word!
Refrain
Faith of our Fathers, Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our Fathers, Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Our Fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Where still in heart and conscience free.
How sweet would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
 
OFFICIAL OCTAVE PRAYER
(to be recited daily)
 
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 to thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
 
Let us pray
 
Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thine Apostles: peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, look not upon my sins, but upon the faith of Thy Church; and vouchsafe unto Her that peace and unity which is agreeable to Thy will: Who livest and reignest God forever and ever. Amen.
 
(An indulgence of 300 days during the octave of prayers for the unity of the Church from the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter in Rome (Jan. 18) to the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul inclusive (Jan. 25). A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions at the end of the devout exercise. Raccolta #622.)
 
FIRST DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 18th)
 
The Feast of Saint Peter’s Chair at Rome Intention of the Day: The Return of the “Other Sheep” to the One Fold of Christ
 
Prayer for the Return of the Other Sheep
 
Priest: Let us pray. O God, in Thy mercy Thou dost set aright those who have gone astray and Thou dost save those whom Thou hast gathered together. We beseech Thee to pour down upon all Christian people the grace of union with Thee, so that putting aside disunion and attaching themselves to the true shepherd of Thy Church, they may be able to serve Thee humbly and lovingly. Through Christ Our Lord.
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Immaculate Virgin, who wast preserved by a singular privilege of grace from original sin, look down with pity upon our separated brethren, who are still thy children, and call them back to the Center of Unity. Many have, even from afar, preserved a most tender devotion towards thee. O Mother, reward them for their devotion by obtaining for them the grace of conversion. Victorious over the powers of hell from the very first moment of thine existence, renew, now that the necessity is more urgent, thy triumphant progress, as in ages past. Glorify thy Son, O Mother, by bringing back to the One Fold His straying sheep. And may it be thy glory, O Virgin, to banish error from the earth, to put an end to disunity and to restore peace to the world.  Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles
 
Priest: O glorious Saint Peter, as a reward for your lively and generous faith, your profound and sincere humility, and your ardent love, you were singled out by Our Lord and endowed with the most special privileges. You were also constituted Prince of the Apostles with the primacy over the
whole Church, of which you were made the Rock and the Foundation. Obtain for us, we pray, a lively faith and an ardent zeal so that all of us will labor for the return of our separated brethren. May the desire of Our Divine Redeemer, that there be but “one fold and one Shepherd,” be for us, as it was for you, the inspiration to work and pray for the return of those who are still outside the Fold. Strengthened by Divine Grace, may they be led back speedily to the bosom of our common Mother, the Catholic Church.
 
People: Amen.
 
SECOND DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 19th)
 
Intention of the day: The Return of the Oriental Separatists to Communion With the Apostolic See
 
Prayer for the reunion of East and West
 
Priest: Let us pray. O Lord, Who hast united all nations in the confession of Thy Name, we pray Thee for the Christian peoples of the East. Mindful of the eminent place they have held in Thy Church, we beg of Thee to inspire them to occupy it again, so as to form with us one single fold. Grant that they, together with ourselves, may be penetrated with the teaching of those holy doctors of theirs, who are also our Fathers in the Faith. Grant us that the spirit of peace and charity, which is the mark of Thy presence among the faithful, may hasten the day in which their prayers may be united with ours, so that every people and every tongue may acknowledge and glorify Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Immaculate Virgin Mary, we thy servants and children, full of confidence in thy powerful protection, humbly beseech thee to implore of the Holy Ghost the abundance of His gifts for our brethren, the separated Christians of the East. Enlightened by His vivifying grace, may they return to the bosom of the Catholic Church. We pray also that our Oriental brethren, once more united to us by the indissoluble bonds of the same faith and the same charity may, with us, glorify by the practice of good works, the most august Trinity, and at the same time pay homage to thee, O Virgin Mother of God, full of grace, now and forever. Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to the Fathers of the Eastern Church
 
Priest: O glorious martyrs, Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, and you illustrious Doctors of the Church, Saint Athanasius, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Basil, who worked and suffered so much for the purity of faith and the salvation of the souls entrusted to your paternal care, look down from heaven upon your beloved Eastern countries, which forgetful of your teaching and example, live now separated from the body of the true Church. By your powerful intercession, O holy Eastern Fathers, obtain for all separated Oriental Christians the grace to return to the Center of Unity, and to form with us one and the same family, in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
 
People: Amen.
 
THIRD DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 20th)
 
Intention of the Day: The Conversion of the Anglicans
 
Prayer for the Conversion of England
 
Priest: Let us Pray. O Jesus, Good Shepherd, look down benignly upon the great and noble English nation. Converted to Thee through the labors of Saint Augustine and his companions, it was for many centuries rich in fruits of faith and sanctity. So devoted was this nation to Thy holy and Immaculate Mother that it was known throughout Christendom as the “Dowry of Mary.” When it was separated from Thee in cruel fashion, many
hundreds of its people willingly shed their blood in testimony of their loyalty to Thee and Thy Church. O loving Shepherd of souls, recall this great nation once more to the unity of Thy Church, and grant peace of soul to all those now separated from Thy flock.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our own most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England, thy Dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. Through thee it was that Jesus, our Savior and our Hope, was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us, thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated English brethren, that they may be united with usin the One True Fold. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith, fruitful in good works, we may all deserve to see and praise God together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to the English Martyrs
 
Priest: O glorious Martyrs of England, Saint Thomas More, Saint John Fisher and your companions, who to sustain the voice of the Supreme Head of the True Church against the decrees of your rulers, did willingly and courageously suffer death, pray now that the great nation to which you belonged may once more return to the bosom of the Church, from which it was so cruelly wrested.
 
People: Amen.
 
FOURTH DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 21st)
 
Intention of the Day: That the Lutherans and Other Protestants of Continental Europe May Find Their Way Back to the Holy Church
 
Prayer for Conversion of Protestants
 
Priest: Let us pray. O most beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast redeemed the world at the price of Thy Most Precious Blood, look down in Thy mercy upon the Christian peoples of Europe, who are still outside Thy Fold, and let the full blaze of the light of Thy truth shine upon them. Multiply, O God, the true messengers of Thy Gospel, inspire them with fervor, make them fruitful in good works, and bless with Thy grace their zeal and their labors, so that the separated Christians of Europe may be fully converted to Thee, their Creator and Redeemer. Recall the straying sheep to Thy Fold, and the wanderers to the bosom of Thy one True Church. Hasten, O dearest Savior, the happy advent of Thy Kingdom on earth, draw all
men to the treasure of Thy Sacred Heart, so that all may share in the priceless benefits of Thy Redemption in the eternal happiness of Heaven.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of Sinners, we beseech thee to look with pitying eyes upon the Protestant peoples of Europe. O Seat of Wisdom, enlighten their minds, so that they may come to know that the Catholic Church is the One, True Church of Christ. Complete their conversion by obtaining for them the grace to believe every truth of our Holy Faith. Once more united to us by the bonds of divine charity, they will sing with us forever thy glorious praises. “Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all error in the whole world.” Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint Agnes on Her Feast
 
Priest: O singular example of virtue, glorious Saint Agnes, the lively faith that animated you from your childhood rendered you so acceptable to God
that you merited the crown of martyrdom. Obtain for us, we pray, the grace to preserve entire in our hearts the Catholic Faith, and to seek the conversion to the faith of our Christian brethren, now separated from us, so that all may become Christians not only in word, but also in deed. Pray for us today that, as we confess Jesus openly in the face of men, Jesus may give favorable testimony of us before His Father in Heaven.
 
People: Amen.
 
FIFTH DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 22nd)
 
Intention of the Day: That Protestants in America May Become One in Union With the Chair of Saint Peter
 
Prayer for the Conversion of America
 
Priest: Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, grant unto all Thy servants, but especially to the people of our own nation, the grace of being fully united to Thee in Thy Church. O Divine Redeemer, of whom the prophet sang, “All the kings of the earth shall adore Him and all the nations shall serve Him,” extend to Thy Kingdom over the entire human race, but especially over our own beloved country. Grant in Thy mercy that the people of our land may be converted to Thee, and humbly and lovingly serve Thee. This we ask, O Savior, through the intercession of Thy Immaculate Mother, the benevolent patroness and protectoress of our country.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: Most holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, Immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look down kindly upon us poor sinners. We now implore thy powerful patronage for all people of our beloved land. The wicked serpent, against whom the first curse was hurled, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. O Blessed Mother, our Queen and our advocate, who crushed the head of the enemy from the very first moment of thine existence, receive from us the prayers which we implore thee to present at the throne of God. Pray that we may never fall into the snares laid out for us, and that we may all arrive at the port of salvation. May the Church and Christian society, now in so many dangers, sing once again the hymn of deliverance, of victory, and of peace. Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint John the Baptist
 
Priest: O most zealous messenger of God, Saint John the Baptist, while you worked no miracles on others, you drew after you crowds, to prepare them to receive Our Savior worthily and to listen to His heavenly teaching. This you did solely by the example of your holy life and the practice of every good work. Pray that we also may receive the grace to lead many souls to God, but above all the souls of those who are still outside the One Fold in our own beloved country.
 
People: Amen.
 
SIXTH DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 23rd)
 
Intention of the Day: The Return to the Sacraments of Lapsed Catholics
 
Prayer for Lapsed Catholics
 
Priest: Let us pray. O Almighty Father, Who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and listen to the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of those children of Thine who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervor of piety, and the ardor of charity. Restore all of them to Thy Sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, Our Savior Jesus Christ.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Mother of Jesus Christ, and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy,” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and eternity. Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint Peter
 
Priest: O glorious Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in its integrity and purity, even if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and make us zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to you today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. May they receive from Almighty God, through your intercession, the grace to return speedily to their Father’s love, so that they may enjoy here on earth peace and tranquillity, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven.
 
People: Amen.
 
SEVENTH DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 24th)
 
Intention of the Day: Conversion of the Jews 
 
Prayer for the Conversion of the Jews
 
Priest: Let us pray. O God, Who dost manifest Thy mercy and compassion towards all peoples, have mercy upon the Jewish race, once Thy Chosen People. Thou didst select them alone out of all the nations of the world to be the custodians of Thy sacred teachings. From them Thou didst raise up Prophets and Patriarchs to announce the coming of the Redeemer. Thou didst will that Thine only Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, should be a Jew according to the flesh, born of a Jewish maiden in the Land of Promise. Listen to the prayers we offer Thee today for the conversion of the Jewish people. Grant that they may come safely to a knowledge and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah foretold by their Prophets and that they may walk with us in the way of salvation.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer for the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
 
Priest and People: God of all goodness and Father of mercies, we beseech Thee, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and by the intercession of the Patriarchs and holy Apostles, to cast a look of compassion upon the children of Israel, that they may be brought to the knowledge of our only Savior, Jesus Christ, and may partake of the precious fruits of the Redemption. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint Paul
 
Priest: O holy Apostle Paul of Tarsus, from your glorious place in heaven, look down upon the race you loved so well. True it is that many of them remained deaf to your ringing words of truth, and that some of them even stirred up persecution against you and your fellow believers, but you were so devoted to your people that you willed to become a castaway for the sake of their conversion. Now that you are glorious in heaven, obtain for your brethren the grace of repentance and conversion, so that they may finally take their rightful place in the great family of the Catholic Church.
People: Amen.
 
 
EIGHTH DAY OF THE OCTAVE
(January 25th)
 
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
 
Intention of the Day: The Missionary Conquest of the World for Christ
 
Prayer for the Conversion of Our Brethren
 
Priest: Let us pray. Eternal God, Creator of all things, remember that the souls of unbelievers have been created by Thee, and formed to Thine own image and likeness. Behold, O Lord, how to Thy dishonor Hell is being filled with these same souls. Remember, O God, that for their salvation Thy Son Jesus Christ underwent a most cruel death. Do not permit, O Lord, that Thy Divine Son be any longer despised by unbelievers; but be appeased by the prayers of the Saints and of the Church, the Spouse of Thy most holy Son, and forgetting their idolatry and unbelief, grant that they may at last come to acknowledge Thy Son Jesus Christ, Who is our salvation, Life and Resurrection, through Whom we have been saved and redeemed; to Whom be glory forever and ever.
 
People: Amen.
 
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Priest and People: O Blessed Mother of God, whose stainless heart is full of mercy and compassion, look down in pity upon those who have not yet heard the tidings of the Gospel. Remember that they are the work of the hands of thy Son that they have been created in His image and redeemed by His Most Precious Blood. Obtain for these poor brethren of ours the knowledge of our Holy Faith, and the grace to love, embrace, and to practice it faithfully. Intercede at the throne of the Most High, O Mother, that many more missionaries may be sent to pagan lands, there to win souls for thy Divine Son. O Virgin Mother of  God, pray that all of us may soon be united in one and the same love. Attentive to the words of thy Divine Son, may we dwell in peace and happiness in the Church He instituted for our salvation.
 
Amen.
 
Priest: Our Lady of Atonement, intercede for us.
 
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, “That all may be one.”
 
Prayer to Saint Paul
 
Priest: O glorious Saint Paul, from a persecutor of the Christian name you became an Apostle of burning zeal, and in order that Jesus Christ might become known to the furthermost bounds of the earth, you joyfully suffered imprisonment, scourging, stoning, shipwreck, and every kind of persecution. Obtain for us now the grace to pray at all times for those who have not as yet been blessed with the gift of faith. Help us to use all our strength for the conversion of those who have not as yet heard the Name of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
People: Amen.
 
Introduced by Archbishop James Francis Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles.
 
PRAYER FOR UNITY AMONG TRADITIONAL CATHOLICS
 
(Adapted From the Prayer of Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer)
 
O my Redeemer, will that terrible moment ever come, when but few Christians shall be left who are inspired by the spirit of faith, that moment when Thine indignation shall be provoked and Thy protection taken from us? Have our vices and our evil lives irrevocably moved Thy justice to take vengeance, perhaps this very day, upon Thy children? O Thou, the author and finisher of our faith, we beseech Thee, in the bitterness of our contrite and humbled hearts, not to suffer the fair light of faith to be extinguished in us. Remember Thy mercies of old, turn Thine eyes with compassion upon the vineyard planted by Thine own right hand, watered by the sweat of the Apostles, by the blood of countless martyrs and by the tears of so many sincere penitents. O Divine Mediator, look upon those zealous souls who raise their hearts to Thee and pray without ceasing for the maintenance of that most precious gift of Thine, the True Faith. Ah, keep us safe in the true Catholic and Roman Faith. Make us faithful to the traditions of our Holy Faith, passed down from the time of Thine Apostles as Thou didst teach it to them. Protect us in unity and keep us from all that will divide us from our Catholic Faith, from one another, and from Thee. Great is the deceit of Satan in trying to wrestle from our souls the peace and comforts of our holy religion. Banish his influence far from us, and make Saint Michael, Thy holy standard bearer, to stand strong in our defense. Let no outside force ever separate us, but rather send Thy grace that will move all hearts of children faithful to Thee and Thy traditions, ever closer to Thee and the ancient truths of Thy Church. Give us all a love for a Church united in heart, faith and devotion, and the courage to work toward that end. With this we can be strong and remain unmoved by even the fiercest of foes, for none is stronger than Thee, Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Sanction of Pope Benedict XV.
 
“In every age it has been the concern of the Roman Pontiffs, Our predecessors, and likewise it concerns Us very much, that Christians who have, unfortunately, withdrawn from the Catholic Religion should a length be recalled to us as a forsaken Mother. For in Unity of the Faith the foremost characteristic is of the truth of the Church shines forth, and it is thus that the Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, by proclaiming that there is one Lord, on Faith, one Baptism (Ephes. 4:5) 
 
“With a glad mind, therefore, We have heard from the Society which I called “of the Atonement”, established in New York, that prayers have been proposed to be recited from the Feast of the Chair of the Blessed Peter at Rome to the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, in order that this aim of Unity might be obtained from the Lord, and at the same time We rejoice that these prayer, blessed by Pope Pius the Tenth, of recent memory and approved by the Bishops of America, have been circulated far and wide throughout the United States. And so, in order that th prayers above mentioned may be offered to God everywhere and with abundant frit for souls and thus the desired end may be more easily attained, We, having also consulted our Venerable Brethren, the Cardinal Inquisitors General of the Holy Roman Church, mercifully grant and bestow in the Lord a Plenary Indulgence and remission of their sins to each and all the faithful of Christ who from the eighteenth day of the month of January, the Festival of the Chair of Blessed Peter of Rome, until the twenty-fifth day f the same month, on which the Conversion of St. Paul is commemorated, shall recite once a day the prayers which are subjoined, and on the last day of this Octave, truly penitent and confessed and refreshed with Holy Communion, shall visit any Church or Public Oratory and there say these prayers to God for the concord of Christian rulers, the extirpation of heresies, the conversion of sinners and for the exaltation of our Holy Mother the Church… We mercifully grant in the Lord, that all these indulgences remissions of sin and relaxation of penances may be applied in behalf of the souls of the faithful of Christ detained in Purgatory. This present letter shall be in force forever, anything to the contrary not withstanding. The prayers, however, which are to be recited for the Unity of the Church during the Octave We have ordained, as above, are to be as follows and lest any changes might creep into them , We have decreed that a copy of them be kept in the archives of the Apostolic Briefs.
 
Given at St. Peter’s Rome, under the seal of the Fisherman, the 25 th of February, 1916, the second of Our Pontificate.”