Prayer for Unity by St. Sophrony

Incommunion - Prayer for Unity by St. Sophrony - Issue 77

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Lamb of God, Who didst take upon Thyself the sin of the world, Who by Thine ascent to Golgotha didst redeem us from the curse of the Law and didst restore Thy fallen image; Who didst stretch out Thy most pure hands on the Cross, gathering together in one the scattered children of God and by the descent of the Most Holy Spirit didst call all men to unity; Thou that art the Brightness of the Father, before going forth to this great and sacred work for the salvation of the world, didst pray to Thy Father that “all may be one” even as Thou art one with the Father and the Holy Spirit; do Thou grant unto us the grace and wisdom each day to fulfill this commandment and strengthen us to strive for that love which Thou didst command of us, saying: “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

By Thy Holy Spirit, give us the power to humble ourselves, one before the other, mindful that “He that loveth the more, doth humble himself the more.” Teach us to pray for one another, in patience to bear one another’s burdens, and unite us with the unbreakable bond of love in Thy holy Name. Grant us to behold in our every brother and sister the image of Thine ineffable glory, and never to forget that our “brother is our life.”

Yea, O Lord, Who hast gathered us together in Thy good providence, make us truly into one family, living with one heart, one will, a single love, as one man, according to Thy pre-eternal counsel for Adam, the firstborn.

Fill our house with the Spirit of Thy holy fear, and let the prayers of Thy most holy Mother, of Thy forerunner John, and our hallowed fathers Silouan and Seraphim overshadow it always, blessing and defending each one of them that dwell therein, preserving us from pernicious thoughts, from unseemly words or impulses of the heart that might destroy peace and concord, that this house may be builded on the rock of Thy Gospel commandments as a place of prayer, of sanctification, and salvation for ourselves and for all who visit us, our laboring and burdened brothers and sisters, that we may all find rest in Thee, our meek and lowly King, now and forever, world without end.

Amen.

Prayer for Unity by St. Sophrony