![]() ![]() At the gates of Damascus Paul has, in the power of the Spirit, a most extraordinary experience of the incarnate, crucified and risen Christ and becomes the Apostle of the One who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:7). ![]() Faith teaches us that, by the power of the Spirit, the Son became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man (Creed). The Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit are one in the distinction of Persons. orat., 23), cannot fail to look constantly at that supreme model and principle of unity which is resplendent in the Trinitarian mystery. Consequently, the Church, "a people made one in the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" (St Cyprian, De Dom. Father, are in me, and I in you", he said at the Last Supper, "may they be one in us" (Jn 17:21). The unity desired by Jesus for his disciples is a sharing in the unity he has with the Father and which the Father has with him. The Second Vatican Council has fittingly recalled that division openly contradicts Christ's will, scandalizes the world and damages that most holy cause, the preaching of the Gospel to every creature (Unitatis redintegratio, n. Jn 13:35 15:12), the more effective this proclamation will be. The more united we are, being recognized as disciples of Christ by loving one another as he has loved us (cf. The humble symbol of a door, which opens bears in itself, an extraordinary wealth of meaning: it proclaims to all that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6). Jn 8:12) and we, in conforming perfectly to him, are called to bring this light into the new century and the new millennium.Īll Form One Body Through The Holy Spirit Christ is the door of our salvation, which leads to reconciliation, to peace and to unity. A purifying water, the "water of life", it enables us to pass through the one "door" which is Christ: "I am the door if any one enters by me, he will be saved" (Jn 10:9). It brings about a sacramental bond of unity among all who have been reborn through it. Welcome to this gathering, which marks another step towards the unity of the Spirit in whom "we have been baptized". ![]() In each of you I would like to greet with a "holy kiss" (Rom 16:16) all the members of the various Churches and Ecclesial Communities that you worthily represent. Dear brothers and sisters, welcome to you all! I offer each of you the embrace of peace in the Lord who has gathered us together, as I cordially thank you for your presence, which I deeply appreciate. We know we are brothers and sisters who are still divided, but we have set out with firm conviction on the path that leads to the full unity of Christ's Body.Ģ. "Baptized by one Spirit into one body": gathered in the basilica that bears Paul's name, we, representatives of different peoples and nations, of various Churches and Ecclesial Communities, feel directly challenged by these words of the Apostle of the Gentiles. I wanted it to coincide with the opening of the Holy Door in this basilica dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles, to stress the ecumenical dimension that should mark the Jubilee Year 2000, At the beginning of a new Christian millennium, in this year of grace that invites us to be converted more radically to the Gospel, we must turn with more heartfelt prayer to the Spirit, imploring the grace of our unity, The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today in Rome with the celebration that has gathered us together. We have all been enriched by the grace of the Spirit who guides our steps towards unity and full, visible communion. in recent times has begun to bestow more generously upon divided Christians remorse and a longing for unity", so that there "increases from day to day a movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians" (Unitatis redintegratio, n. Does not the grace of the "ecumenical movement" flow from this prayer? As the Second Vatican Council affirms: "The Lord of ages. Despite our resistence, it continues to bear fruit, although mysteriously. Paul's words to the community of Corinth, "by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor 12:13), seem to form a counterpoint to Christ's prayer: "As you, Father, are in me, and I in you, I pray that they may be one in us" (Jn 17:21).Ĭhrist's prayer for unity! It is the prayer he addressed to the Father just before his passion and death. ![]()
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