P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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INTENTION : |
That the Christians of the West, may constantly increase
their knowledge and appreciation of the spirituality and
liturgical traditions of the Oriental Churches
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The Holy Father, in an exceptional way, asks us to focus on the contribution of the Oriental Churches. The ancient tradition of the Oriental Churches is an integral part of Christ's Church. Thus, Catholics need to be familiar with that tradition, so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each.
Catholics of the Latin tradition need to realize that when the Gospel was preached in the early centuries many of the Oriental Churches proudly boasted of having one of the Apostles as their first witnesses to the Lord. Our Oriental Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters.
The members of the Latin Catholic tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the Pope, a passionate longing for the Church's catholicity to be restored to the Church and to the world. This catholicity need not be expressed by a single tradition, and still less by one community in opposition to the other. We are asked to pray earnestly that we be granted a full taste of the revealed and undivided heritage of the universal Church which is found in the life of the Churches of both the East and the West.
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