Folia Theologica et Canonica 10. 32/24 (2021)
Sacra theologia
FRENCH CATHOLIC INITIATIVES TOWARDS CHRISTIAN UNITY 17 poris Christi from Pope Pius XII (1943) on the church itself, with theological and pastoral teachings.15 Also Pius XII in the instruction Ecclesia Catholica (1949) already speaks of the Protestant aspiration for unity in the voice of evaluation. Although the 1950s showed an even more closed Church image, the Lyon Ecumenical Center organized meetings and prayer opportunities in an almost unparalleled way to spread the desire for unity more and more widely. From February 1957, he published “prayer leaflets” (Feuillets spirituels) on a bi-monthly basis for those who were increasingly offering their lives for unity internally. In addition, the yearly tracts helped to raise awareness of the unity’s case. These have already been published by Paul Couturier and distributed to parishes and various communities. This continued successfully during the time of Pierre Michalon.16 Mass for Christian unity also had a special role “for the closing the ruptures” (ad tolendum schisma). It was a votive Mass in Roman Missale, performed in a purple mass robe as a sign of repentance. Readings included chapter 4 of Ephesians and chapter 17 of the Gospel of John. The antiphons of the offering and the communio verse were taken from the Epistle to the Romans (chapter 15) and the of the first Corinthians (chapter 10).17 The “Feuillets spirituels ” which reached parishes and communities, provided an opportunity for Pierre Michalon to publish, in addition news and events, a possible ecumenical ceremony, the scriptural readings of which he himself chose and the explanations he wrote. Michalon also took forward the case of the “Invisible Monastery” initiated by Couturier and, for his part, reinforced the program of interfaith meetings in Groupe des Dombes, which was also launched by Couturier. These publications and events were very popular among the faithful, and slowly the bishops, albeit cautiously, began fostering Christian unity.18 How15 http://www.ppek.hu/konyvek/XII_Pius_papa_Apostoli_k°r'evele_Jezus_Krisztus_misztikus_ testerol_l.pdf. (consulted: February 4,h 2022). 16 See Villain, M., Introduction ä l’oecuménisme, Tournai-Paris 1961. 175. 17 The Mass for the Unity of Christians can, in fact, be traced back centuries, which may have been repeated several times during the year, and which may have raised the flame of unity in the faithful. With the permission of the bishop of the diocese, this Mass will be held during the week of prayer from 18 to 25 January, they could also be presented on a Sunday between Gloria and Credo, made even more solemn. The collecta of the Mass formulated the realization of the desired unity: “God, who will lead the erring ones back to the right path, gather what has been scattered and preserve what has come together. We ask you to pour out the grace of unity graciously on the Christian people, so that the divisions may end in true unity with the pastor of your church, and we may have the strength to serve you worthily!” The Mass, published in 1942, was edited with diocesan permission: nihil obstat - imprimatur, Lugduni (26 octobre 1942). According to Lavallee, F., cf. The Mass for Unity is the most appropriate way to recall that the Eucharist is the sacrament of Unity, and the Mass is the Eucharistic sacrifice offered for Unity. Villain, M., Introduction ä l’oecuménisme, 179-180. 18 See the example of the Archbishop of Rouen: Sebe, J.-B-Harang, Ch.-É., Le cardinal Joseph- Marie Martin, archevéque de Rouen engagé dans l’unité des chrétiens (années 1950-1960)
