Vigils Reading

A reading from the encyclical “Ut Unum Sint” by

POPE ST JOHN PAUL II

◊◊◊

The Catholic Church affirms that during the two thousand years of her

history she has been preserved in unity, with all the means with which God

wishes to endow His Church, and this despite the often grave crises which have

shaken her, the infidelity of some of her ministers, and the faults into which her

members daily fall. The Catholic Church knows that, by virtue of the strength

which comes to her from the spirit, the weaknesses, mediocrity, sins and at

times the betrayals of some of her children cannot destroy what God has

bestowed on her as part of his plan of grace.

Moreover, “the powers of death shall not prevail against it”. Even so, the

Catholic Church does not forget that many among her members cause God’s

plan to be discernible only with difficulty. Speaking of the lack of unity among

Christians, the Decree on Ecumenism does not ignore the fact that “people of

both sides were to blame”, and acknowledge that responsibility cannot be

attributed only to the “other side”. By God’s grace, however, neither what

belongs to the structure of the Church of Christ nor that communion which still

exists with the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities has been destroyed.

Indeed the elements of sanctification and truth present in the other

Christian Communities, in a degree which varies from one to the other,

constitute the objective basis of the communion, albeit imperfect, which exists

between them and the Catholic Church.

To the extent that these elements are found in other Christian

Communities, the one Church of Christ is effectively present in them. For this

reason the Second Vatican Council speaks of a certain, though imperfect

communion… The Catholic Church “recognizes that in many ways she is linked”

with these Communities by a true union in the spirit…

For there are many who honor Sacred scripture, taking it as a norm of

belief and of action, and who show a true religious zeal. They lovingly believe in

God the Father almighty and in Christ, Son of God and Savior. They are

consecrated by Baptism, through which they are united with Christ. They also

recognize and receive other sacraments within their own Churches or Ecclesial

Communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy

Eucharist, and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God. They also

share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits.

Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the

Holy spirit, for to them also He gives His gifts and graces, and is thereby

operative among them with his sanctifying power. Some indeed he has

strengthened to the extent of shedding their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the

spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by

Christ, as one flock under one shepherd…

All of these elements bear within themselves a tendency toward unity,

having their fullness in that unity. Ecumenism is directed precisely to making

the partial communion existing between Christians grow toward full

communion in truth and charity.