The roots of the monastic tradition are deep in the life of the early Christian church and predate the separation of the churches in the fifth, the eleventh, or the sixteenth centuries. Thus, monastics from today’s divided churches experience a profound unity that transcends ecclesial difference. They share a bond rooted in the experience of the search for oneness through a life of singular attention to the God of love. (The word “monk” comes from the Greek monos, meaning “one” or “single.”) Through simplicity of life, common prayer, and with the support of others in community, each monastic journeys along a path of continual conversion.

Sister Anne-Emmanuel, Prioress of the Grandchamp community, reflects on the search for oneness with God lived out in the context of community:

Abiding in Christ, remaining united in Christ at all times and circumstances is not easy. How can I let him work through me and bring about the fruit of communion or friendship in spite of differences in personality, culture, generation, or liturgical sensibility? We are a group of very diverse women. Through our daily life in common our love for God and for others is tested. How can I say that I love God if I do not love my sister, my brother (1 John 4:20)? Without forgiveness, starting over day after day, we cannot mature and grow in this very human path to overcome conflict and inner struggles.

The rhythm of personal and communal prayer is essential to the formation of each monastic and of the whole community. Through the regular practice of prayer, coming humbly as we are into the presence of God, we discover our deepest selves and begin to see others as God sees them. Grounded in prayer, we come to discover ourselves as loved and are enabled to love others as God loves them.

The practice of abiding in the love of Christ, the vine, is essential as the churches continue on the path of growth in communion. All Christians – each one individually, each community, and all of us collectively – must remain deeply rooted in Christ, the very source of our life. From his self-giving love will flow the dynamic of our relationship with one another. In moments of silence, of listening to God’s Word, and responding together in praise, we discover the profound bond of communion that unites us with disciples of Christ everywhere and the shared call to pour ourselves out in self-giving love and service to all.

While Paul Couturier promoted the annual observance of the Week of Prayer, he knew it was equally important that Christians pray for one another and for the communion of the churches all year long. This is not a task that belongs to monastics alone. It is the responsibility of every baptized Christian. Each day we pray the Lord’s Prayer, acknowledging God as loving parent and, implicitly, one another as brothers and sisters. When we ask that God’s will be done, this includes God’s desire for the reconciliation and unity of all the followers of Christ. As we observe the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year, perhaps we could resolve to pray more regularly and more intentionally for our fellow Christians – for the congregations of other Christians in our neighbourhood and for those who suffer in distant lands.

Praying together in the context of a global pandemic where we may not be able to gather in person, requires a greater effort on our part. It compels us to discover new and creative ways to reach out and connect with one another. Perhaps the experience of social and physical distancing might deepen in us a desire to be gathered anew and to let our unity in Christ once again bear the fruit of communion with one another.

Catherine E. Clifford is Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology in the Faculty of Theology and Founding Director of the Research Center on Vatican II and 21st Century Catholicism at Saint Paul University, Ottawa. Her teaching and research are focused in the areas of ecclesiology and ecumenism. She is presently a member of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission. In addition, she has served as a delegate to the Global Christian Forum (2016-2018) and a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue of Canada (1994-2015).