As often happens when writing, our topics can change
direction from what we originally plan, at least for a while. I was puzzled myself
about why I continue to focus upon the upcoming Bishops’ Synod on Synodality,
to be convened in Oct. 2023 and Oct. 2024, when other Synods of Bishops have
had important topics but did not take my long-lasting attention. (It is also called Synod 21-24, and my
posts about it can be brought up in reverse order by clicking the label “Synod”
at the bottom of any of them).
When I thought about this Synod, I realized several things
about it run close to my own interests. I looked up the “About” page on the
Synod’s website (found HERE), which describes its goals. “Synodality” is not a
commonly used word, so I’ll quote the first paragraph on the page:
Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church, expressing her nature as the People of God journeying together and gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel. Synodality ought to be expressed in the Church’s ordinary way of living and working.
I am very interested in evangelization, and the above
paragraph expresses the need for proclaiming the Gospel. I am very interested
in faith, and “People of God… summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the
Holy Spirit” denotes those who believe in the Trinitarian God: Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
The webpage then states the aim of the Synod:
This Synod is intended as a Synodal Process. The aim of this synodal process is not to provide a temporary or one-time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal Church in the long-term.
I am very interested in discernment, and the aim of the
Synod obviously includes this concept.
Three themes are listed at the bottom of the “About” page of
the Synod website. They are Communion, Participation and Mission. They are
short paragraphs, worth reading at the link given above.
A writer shouldn’t repeat phrases except for poetic
emphasis, I suppose, so to repeat “I am very interested” is perhaps tiresome to
a reader. But it conveys a feeling of clarity for me of why I have taken this
particular Synod of Bishops so seriously.
Another thing happened to help me connect the dots. I don’t
even remember how I spotted Pope Francis' General Audiences (probably
through a search engine), but two subjects Francis has been talking about
lately are discernment (starting Aug. 31, 2022) and evangelization (starting
Jan. 11, 2023), which you can find from his Audience links pages starting HERE.
The 10:00 am Wednesday General Audiences are presented by
the pope to crowds at the Vatican, either from a window at St. Peter’s Square
or inside in inclement weather. According to Bing AI, they began in 1975 with
Pope Paul VI and have been continued by his successors.
I was aware of General Audiences of popes but had not
followed them. However, I had read some of Pope Francis’ homilies from the beginning
of his pontificate over 10 years ago and found him to be a powerful speaker. His
General Audiences through the years have various subjects, including old age,
works of mercy, and meditations on St. Joseph. Since 2020, the listings are labeled
not only by date but by subject, obviously making it easier to navigate (a few
were labeled in previous years but were not consistent).
I noticed that around the time of the 2014-2015 General
Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, some of the General Audiences
were about the family. Pope Francis has been talking recently not only in Audiences
but in homilies and meetings about how we should seek the Holy Spirit to lead
us to walk together as a Church, especially in relation to the upcoming Synod
of Bishops on Synodality.
I also found the present Holy Father continued the series on
the subject of faith by Pope Benedict XVI, who had previously declared a Year
of Faith for the Catholic Church, starting October 11, 2012. Pope Benedict was
giving General Audiences about faith when he resigned as pope in February 2013
(the series started at the link HERE).
Pope Francis’ first General Audience was March 27, 2013, two
weeks after he was elected. It was in the middle of Holy Week, and he urged
Catholics to get out of their comfort zones for the sake of following Jesus
Christ’s example and speaking on behalf of Him (link HERE). Then he resumed the
“faith series” the next week (link HERE).
Christians need the Holy Spirit to refine our faith and help us evangelize. But though we may attempt to hear what the Holy Spirit says, do we
really know how to do it? For one thing, I believe it can take time, as in past
Church crises for example, where Church leaders fought over their opinions. I
also think it is very important to try to understand.
I have read the Holy Father’s General Audiences on discernment and
am following his series on evangelization. Though Pope Francis may not have all
the answers, I think these Audiences, each of which does not take long to read,
may be worth contemplating in learning to discern the Holy Spirit.
