Chair of Unity Octave
January 18 was
once the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. There was a second feast on
February 22 which served the same basic purpose, so Pope John XXIII
combined the two so both are now celebrated on February 22. But a
custom remains that is centered around the date of the January 18 feast
and the week that follows: the Octave of Unity.
Starting on the old feast date of January 18 and for the next 8 days,
until the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25, the Church
prays for the lost sheep, the schismatic, Anglicans, Lutherans and
other Protestants in Europe, American Protestants, lapsed Catholics,
Jews, and for the entire world to be united in the one, true Faith,
under the authority of the Chair of St. Peter.
This practice began in 1908, when an Episcopalian realized the errors
and disunity of Protestantism and began an "octave of unity" to pray
for the coming together of all Christians under the authority of the
Holy See. He not only converted to Catholicism, but brought with him
two entire congregations of first order and second order Episcoplian
Franciscans. Pope St. Pius X approved of his "octave of unity, as did
Pope Benedict XV in 1916. Five years later, American Bishops adopted
the practice, which has since spread all over the world.
To practice this devotion, simply pray the prayers below for 8 days,
starting on January 18 and ending on January 25. I've made the prayers
available for download here: Prayers
for the Chair of Unity Octave (pdf)
Prayers for the
Chair of Unity Octave
First Day of the
Octave: January 18
Intention of the
Day: The Return of the "Other Sheep" to the One Fold of Christ
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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. 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
Mary, to banish error from the earth, to put an end to disunity and to
restore peace to the world. Amen.
Priest: Our Lady of the Atonement intercede for us.
People:That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, "That
all may be one."
Prayer to St. Peter,
Prince of the Apostles
Priest: O glorious St. Peter, as a reward for thy lively and generous
faith, thy profound and sincere humility, and thy ardent love, thou
wast singled out by Our Lord and endowed with most special privileges.
Thou wast also constituted Prince of the Apostles with primacy over the
whole Church, of which thou wert made the Rock and 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 might be but "one Fold and one
Shepherd," be for us, as it wast for thee, the inspiration to work and
pray for the return of all 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. Amen.
Second Day of the
Octave: January 19
Intention of the
Day: The Return of Oriental Separatists to Communion with the Apostolic
See
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for the
Reunion of the 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. 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 the 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 thou, 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 thy paternal care, look down from heaven upon thy beloved
Eastern countries, which, forgetful of thy teaching and example, live
now separated from the body of the true Church. By thy 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. Amen.
Third Day of the
Octave: January 20
Intention of the
day: The Conversion of the Anglicans
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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 St. 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. 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 us in 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 the 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 thy companions, who, to sustain the voice of the Supreme
Head of the True Church against the decrees of your rulers, didst
willingly and courageously suffer death, pray now that the great nation
to which thou didst belong may once more return to the bosom of the
Church from which it was so cruelly wrested. Amen.
Fourth Day of the
Octave: January 21
Intention of the
day: That the Lutherans and Other Protestants of Continental Europe May
Fnd their Way Back to Holy Church
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for the
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 stray 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 treasures of Thy
Sacred Heart, so that all may share in the priceless benefits of Thy
Redemption in the eternal happiness of Heaven. 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 the Atonement intercede for us.
People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, "That
all may be one."
Prayer to St. Agnes
on her feast
Priest: O singular example of virtue, glorious Saint Agnes, the lively
faith that animated thee from thy childhood rendered thee so acceptable
to God that thou didst merit 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. Amen.
Fifth Day of the
Octave: January 22
Intention of the
Day: That Protestants in America May Become One in Union with the Chair
of Saint Peter
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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 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 protectress of our
country. 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 the 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 the 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
thou didst work no miracles on others, thou didst draw after thee
crowds, to prepare them to receive Our Savior worthily and to listen to
His heavenly teaching. This thou didst do sole!y by the example of thy
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.
Amen.
Sixth Day of the
Octave: January 23
Intention of the
Day: The Return to the Sacraments of Lapsed Catholics
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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 fives 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. 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 for eternity. Amen.
Priest: Our Lady of the 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. Amen.
Seventh Day of the
Octave: January 24
Intention of the
Day: Conversion of the Jews
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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. Amen.
Prayer of 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 the 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 thy glorious place in
heaven, look down upon the race thou didst love so well. True it is
that many of them remained deaf to thy ringing words of truth, and that
some of them even stirred up persecution against thee and thy fellow
believers, but thou wert so devoted to thy people that thou didst will
to become a castaway for the sake of their conversion. Now that thou
art glorious in heaven, obtain for thy brethren the grace of repentance
and conversion, so that they may finally take their rightful place in
the great family of the Catholic Church. Amen.
Eighth Day of the
Octave: January 25th
Intention of the
day: The Missionary Conquest of the World for Christ
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. (John 17:21)
V. I say unto thee that thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock I will build My Church.
Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidst untoThine Apostles peace I
leave with you, My peace I give unto you, regard not our sins, but the
faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant unto Her that peace and
unity which are agreeable to Thy Will Who livest and reignest, God,
forever and ever. Amen.
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.
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 hope,
and 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 the 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
thou didst become an Apostle of burning zeal, and in order that Jesus
Christ might become known to the furthermost
bounds of the earth, thou didst joyfully suffer 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. Amen.
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