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A Synodal Prayer
I composed a prayer with synodal intentions which I thought I might reproduce here. This prayer is especially for the ‘local Churches’ in whichever diocese and whatever area or place we find ourselves within the broader Church. All of the quotations within the text of the prayer are taken directly from the Final Synthesis Report of the first session of the Synod of Bishops. I hope you might find it useful. Merciful Lord, thank You for the faith which acknowledges that this gift of the Synod is “a time of grace which encourages us” and which invites us to “a mode of being Church”. Give us the hope,…
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Synod – Week 3
Some of the information about the Synod comes from the presentations broadcast at the start of the general congregations; but the most revealing information comes from the press briefings given several times each week. This week, these have been very revealing. Speaking at one such briefing, Professor Viral Tirimanna said something very interesting. He said he is more and more optimistic about the synodal process – “I am seeing how synodality is lived; it happens when you do it.” He felt this was due very much to “the atmosphere of prayer, heavily complemented by the spiritual conversations – we see how the synodal process or way of living, is already…
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Listen
Way back, our parish community gathered week after week in deep prayer in preparation for the Synod which would follow later, doing this at the request of the Holy Father. Our intention was clear – to try to listen and discern the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We prayed each time over the Scriptural account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Every meeting began with a very slow reading of this account and then we prayed silently. And only then did we consider saying anything. We listened first. Many parishes and groups all over the world were doing the very same thing as we were. Everywhere, the Church…
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A Land To Be Cultivated
Over the past week I have watched with interest as various self-appointed critics in ecclesiastical circles – primarily, but not only, cardinals and bishops – have “warned” the faithful of the impending doom and danger which is the Synod, due to take place in October. At least one such bishop has overtly told the faithful that to leave the Church and instead be a part of this group of worriers would not constitute schism – indeed, he said, it would be the right thing to do. And at least one such cardinal is moving along similar lines and doing so openly and very vocally indeed. The reality is considerably different…
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A Moment Of Listening
Reading many, many posts on social media concerning the forthcoming Synod this October, one of the facets I notice is the reluctance to embrace the Synod. Most frequently, I notice that this reluctance seems to come from those who would consider themselves – in fact, proclaim themselves to be – more ‘traditionalist’ in their approach to the practice of their faith. For these, the distancing from the Synod appears to come along with something else – a partial or full rejection of the papacy of Pope Francis. Ironically, it is these same people who profess most loudly that they are Catholic – not seeming to notice the irony between what…
