We Are One

By Thomas Creen, MJ • Lviv, Ukraine

Christians who follow the Julian calendar (mostly in the East) often celebrate Easter on a different Sunday than Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar (mostly in the West). This year, however, all Christians are celebrating Easter on the same Sunday which gives a glimpse into how deeply united we all are.

I love the Orthodox churches and Orthodox people throughout the world. Their devotion to the Blessed Mother, their asceticism, their reverence for tradition, and their love of God are all so admirable. Since the Orthodox churches have preserved the apostolic succession, they possess the same, true seven Sacraments as we Catholics. Therefore, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in every Orthodox church, in the same way He is in every Catholic church.

We see in the Eucharist the most obvious evidence of how deeply united we are. Take a minute and bring to mind the Eucharist preserved in the tabernacle at the Catholic church nearest to you right now. Then call to mind the Eucharist preserved in the tabernacle in the Orthodox church nearest to you. Christ, our true God, is really and substantially present in both places at the same time. What stronger link can there be among the Churches other than God Himself? That’s an unbreakable, eternal link. That’s a link which is Love Himself. We are united in Love.

There have been times in my travels when I have needed to go to Orthodox priests for confession and Orthodox liturgies for Holy Communion (look at Canon 844, paragraph 2 if this surprises you). The priests were so kind and helpful that it made a deep impression on me. It showed me in practice what I already knew in theory – we are one.

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