LOCKDOWN PRAYERS

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.

IT IS ALSO "BONFIRE NIGHT"

“A PRAYER FOR BONFIRE NIGHT”

God of truth and love, on this night, as sparks ignite a flame and the sky is lit up by flashes and sparkling, so may the example of the saints burn and explode within us.

Fill our hearts with delight in your love and glory;

Forgive us the divisions that would breed hatred and violence

Strengthen all who build bridges to unity and peace,

and give us grace to trust in your promises,

rejoice in your love,

and to work for your kingdom

now and for ever.

Ian Black, “Prayers for All Occasions”

"Bonfire Night" has been a night of celebration since Guy Fawkes tried to enable Parliament to work more effectively! More seriously, it has had damaging implications regarding Christian Unity. The regrettable separations and divisions in Christendom over the last millennium have been met in the last century by a realization of one of Christ’s last wishes, “may they be one, Father, as You and I are One”….

The ecumenical movement seeks to bring about the unity Christ wills for His Church — not to water down the deposit of the Faith handed on by Christ to the Church to a least common denominator.

While much of the work to accomplish unity is handled at higher levels, we each need to do our part. The most important thing we can do is to pray for Christian unity.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when you were about to suffer, you prayed for your disciples that they might all be one, as you are in the Father and the Father in you. Look down in pity on the many divisions among those who profess your faith. Heal the wounds which human pride and the craft of evil have inflicted on your people. Break down the walls of separation which divide Christians. Look with compassion on all souls and bring them together under the One Shepherd. St John Henry Newman

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may be always free from sin

and safe from all distress,

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ;

who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and ever.

The Roman Mass

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever lives to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.

Archbishop William Laud,

who died in 1645.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A prayer from the Forms of Prayer with Thanksgiving for the Anniversary of the day of the Accession of the Reigning Sovereign in the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England.