A Synodal Way:
Mysticism
and Method

July to September 2024 - no 24 2024/3

Issue 22 top

Mysticism and method:

two dimensions that should not be separated but also not confused, as the Christological dogma rightly teaches.

Both are indispensable and not reducible to one another...

... synodality is not only “the specific modus vivendi et operandi of the Church, the People of God,

... but it is also a human-divine art that we are all invited to learn and experience more and more.

Life-giving Listening

"A synodal Church is a Church of listening," Pope Francis reiterated several times. Already in Evangelii gaudium he noted, "We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than hearing" (No. 171).

We need this “listening of the heart,” in order to truly encounter the other person and be surprised together by God's ever-new thoughts and plans.

The excerpt below is from an address by the author to a group of bishops of various Churches, in Istanbul on Oct. 9, 1984.

Conversation in the Spirit

Infographic

Conversation in the Spirit is “a dynamic of discernment in the synodal Church” that will assist participants in hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.

PIERO CODA

Mysticism and process

Piero Coda, secretary of the International Theological Commission and a theologian at the Synod, explores what the Synod’s Instrumentum laboris says about the fundamental question of "How to be a Synodal Church?"

SR NATHALIE BECQUART XMCJ

Conversing in the Spirit

During her talk in Rome, on the first morning of the International Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod in late April 2024, the undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod illustrated how the method of Conversation in the Spirit has come increasingly to the fore during the recent synodal journey. We thank the author for kindly allowing Ekklesia to publish the text from that day, with slight modifications.

PAOLO MONACO SJ

To do Your Will!

A reflection on the Trinitarian foundation of personal or collective spiritual discernment in light of the experience of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the early fathers of the Society of Jesus.

The author is the director of the CIS - Ignatian Center of Spirituality of the Euro-Mediterranean province of the Society of Jesus.

CARDINAL GIUSEPPE PETROCCHI

Mary, Teacher and Model of Synodality

This contribution comes from a seminar held in mid-May at Castel Gandolfo and organized by the Evangelii Gaudium Center of Sophia University Institute (Loppiano – Florence). In his presentation below, the now emeritus Archbishop of L’Aquila (Italy) focused on the Marian dimension of synodality, with its ecclesial and cultural implications. He outlined core themes and paths of meaningful consideration, leaving them to participants' deeper reflection.

CLINT RESSLER

A path in listening to the Spirit

St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal is the only Catholic parish in a town of 50,000 in the Galveston-Houston diocese in Texas (USA). The pastor, Clint Ressler, is assisted by two permanent deacons and a staff of seven others. He speaks of challenges, fears, failures and successes, in initiating and concretizing synodality in the community.

DAVID RANSON

The parish as Synodal - A case study

The Parish of our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood, in the Diocese of Broken Bay, Australia, is an urban, multicultural community. The article outlines its commitment and engagement of a synodal pathway both to nurture its pastoral activity and consider its future growth. Fr. David Ranson, is Vicar Genial of the Diocese of Broken Bay and Pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Dolours.

MATTHIAS HEMBROCK

Openness to those who left

The author is the pastor in the Catholic parish of St. Georg in Bocholt, Germany, and here he describes how he deals with the phenomenon of numerous Church members who have chosen to step away from the Church in recent years. He asks how should we view this and what should our attitude be?

ADRIANA MASOTTI

Learning unity in diversity

Experiments in synodality from various local churches around the world.

MERVAT KELLI

A tested and rediscovered friendship

Since the times of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, there has been a warm relationship between the Roman Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches. In recent times, however, that friendship has been put to the test.

ROBERTO CATALANO

"A revolutionary journey

that did much good"

The inter-religious conference held at the Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo (Rome) and in the city of Assisi from May 31 - June 4 2024.

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A Synodal Way: Mysticism and Method

A Synodal Way:
Mysticism
and Method