[164] Cf. [155] Francis, Ceremony Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Institution of the Synod of Bishops, AAS107 (2015)1141. [102] Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte 29, AAS 93 (2001) 285-286. The presence of non-Catholic observers at Vatican II is well known. These structures encourage consideration of the inculturation of the Gospel in different contexts, keeping in mind the challenge of globalisation, and play their part in manifesting "the beauty of the varied face of the Church" in its Catholic unity[116]. [170] Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium 284, AAS 105 (2013) 1134. Synods are essentially a collegial mode of governance. [37]What it excludes is the theory that such a definition requires this consent, antecedent or consequent, as a condition for its authoritative status (International Theological Commission, Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church(2014), 40). Although synodality is not explicitly found as a term or as a concept in the teaching of Vatican II, it is fair to say that synodality is at the heart of the work of renewal the Council was encouraging. 14. Congregation for Bishops - Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Istruzione sui sinodi diocesani (1997); Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops Apostolorum Successores (2004) 166-176. The official name for the "synod on synodality" is: "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission." What about to make decisions binding on the church? The Councils profession of faith and its canonical decisions are recognised as having a normative value for the whole Church, despite adverse reactions, which has been the case on other occasions throughout history, too. 53. the seventh century Ordo de celebrando Concilio). Biblical Sub-Group. The sequence - the Mystery of the Church (chapter 1), the People of God (chapter 2), the Hierarchical Constitution of the Church (chapter 3) - stresses that the ecclesiastical hierarchy is at the service of the People of God in order that the Church may carry out her mission in conformity with Gods plan of salvation, in the logic of the priority of the whole over its parts and of the end over the means. A new threshold in the wake of Vatican II. We are focusing here on the relationship between the synodal life of the Church and the apostolic ministry that is made real in the ministry of Bishops in collegial and hierarchical communion with each other and with the Bishop of Rome. Synodality in Scriptures The Bible is also full of stories and ideas about "walking together" or "journeying together." God did not intend for man to be alone from the beginning, which is why he provided him with a suitable partner. The Old Testament shows that God created the human person, man and woman, in his image and likeness as a social being called to work with Him by moving forward in the sign of communion, by caring for the universe and directing it towards its goal (Genesis 1,26-28). The synodal dimension of the Church must be brought out by enacting and directing discernment processes which bear witness to the dynamism of communion that inspires all ecclesial decisions. Besides such secular persons, some 800 abbots attended, outnumbering the bishops two to one. Pope Francis: Path to 2023 Synod on Synodality faces 3 'risks' In fact today, when growing awareness of the interdependence between peoples forces us to think of the world as our common home, the Church is called to demonstrate that her Catholicity and the synodal way in which she lives and works are a catalyst of unity in diversity and of communion in freedom. Although their influence is difficult to measure, it certainly was operative. The unity of the Blessed Trinity in the communion of the three divine Persons is revealed in the Christian community, which is called to live "the unity of Gods sons in truth and charity"[140], in the exercise of the various gifts and charisms received from the Holy Spirit for the common good. We must always face up to the question: how can we truly be a synodal Church unless we live "moving outwards" towards everyone in order to go together towards God? John W. OMalley, S.J., is University Professor emeritus in the theology department at Georgetown University. The kenosis of Christ (2,7-10) is the radical form of His obedience to the Father and for the disciples it is the call to feel, think and discern together with humility the will of God in following the Master and Lord. In creative fidelity to the depositum fidei and consistent with the criterion of the hierarchia veritatum[164],the horizon of synodality actually shows us how promising that exchange of gifts is, by which we can enrich each other as we journey towards unity: the reconciled harmony of the inexhaustible riches of the mystery of Christ, reflected in the beauty of the face of the Church. [69] Blessed Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi 62, AAS 68 (1975) 52; cf. e. Mission. In ecclesiastical Greek it expresses how the disciples of Jesus were called together as an assembly and in some cases it is a synonym for the ecclesial community[3]. Deuteronomy 27-28; Joshua 24; 2 Kings 23; Nehemiah 8). Vatican Council I (1869-1870) endorsed the doctrine of the primacy and infallibility of the Pope. The concept of synodality is broader than that of collegiality because it includes the participation of all in the Church and that of all the Churches. John 6,45) and having been guided "to the complete truth" (cf. 32. John 17,21-22). 77. For that to happen, God promises to give them a new heart and spirit (cf. Regional synodal structures in the Latin-rite Catholic Church include: Provincial and General Councils, Episcopal Conferences and groupings of Episcopal Conferences, sometimes at a continental level; in the Eastern-rite Catholic Church: Patriarchal and Provincial Synods, the Assembly of Hierarchs of various eastern Churches sui iuris[105]and the Council of Eastern Catholic Patriarchs. To sum up, in the light of its normative sources and its theologal foundations, which we have recalled in chapters 1 and 2, we can conclude with a precise description of synodality as an essential dimension of the Church. This correlation promotes that singularis conspiratio between the faithful and their Pastors[78], which is an icon of the eternal conspiratio that is lived within the Trinity. Eventually they choose some representatives to take the letter that explains the decision taken and prescribes the procedure to be followed (15,23-39); the letter is delivered and read to the community in Antioch, who receive it gladly (15,30-31). [30] Cf. It also expresses the wish that, on the level of communion between Churches in a region, the venerable institution of Synods and Councils should be re-invigorated, and invites the promotion of Episcopal Conferences. [156] Cf. This last observation is of signal importance. By the early second century, bishops emerged as the overseers, guardians and leaders of their flocks in their cities and claimed that they were successors to the apostles. Synod of Sardica (343), canons 3 and 5, DH 133-134. Ecclesial synodality therefore needs theologians to do theology in a synodal way, developing their capacity to listen to each other, to dialogue, to discern and to harmonise their many and varied approaches and contributions. He listens to them with compassion and love. John 15,12-15). Numbers 1,50-51). Saint John Chrysostom, for example, writes that the Church is a name standing for 'walking together ()"[4]. This linguistic novelty, which needs careful theological clarification, is a sign of something new that has been maturing in the ecclesial consciousness starting from the Magisterium of Vatican II, and from the lived experience of local Churches and the universal Church since the last Council until today. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Wondering why we ask for your email, or having trouble registering. John 14,6) that leads to the Father; in the Holy Spirit (cf. 98. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I, 2; III, prol. An ecumenical council is a meeting, principally of bishops, gathered in Christs name to make decisions binding on the church. The Bible is also full of stories and ideas about walking together or journeying together. God did not intend for man to be alone from the beginning, which is why he provided him with a suitable partner. The Second Ecumenical Vatican Council continued along the lines of of Vatican I and made it part of a programme of aggiornamento, taking account of the gains of the intervening years and including them in a rich synthesis in the light of Tradition. Acts 1,14), and thus made possible the missionary outburst which took place at Pentecost"[170], accompany the synodal pilgrimage of the People of God, pointing the way and teaching us the beautiful, tender and strong style of this new phase of evangelisation. SYNODALITY IS JOURNEYING TOGETHER - St Michael Church Matthew 16,18f., John 21,15ff. 1 Peter 2,5), "a dwelling-place of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2,22). 1 Corinthians 12,12-17; Romans 12,4-5; Ephesians 4,4). Equally, it refers to the Lord Jesus, who presents Himself as the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14,6), and to the fact that Christians, His followers, were originally called followers of the Way (cf. In itself, the Synod of Bishops can make recommendations to the pope but cannot make binding decisions. [11]Cf. The Lords is expressed in the Church through the variety of spiritual gifts ( ) or charisms ( ) the Spirit shares out among the People of God for the upbuilding of the one Body of Christ. 3. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Biblical_Resouces_for_Synodality_A4_EN.pdf. Family Solidarity. The Bishops who compose it represent the whole Catholic episcopacy[123], so that the Synod of Bishops is evidence of the participation of the College of Bishops, in hierarchical communion with the Pope, in care for the universal Church[124]. The Church is de Trinitate plebs adunata[44], called and qualified as the People of God to set out on her mission "to God, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit"[45]. This assembly (/- the first term often being translated into Greek as ), ratified in the Sinai covenant (cf. [167] Cf. Historical Development of Small Christian Communities/Basic Ecclesial Communities in Africa 2. International Theological Commission, Select Themes of Ecclesiology (1984), II. The Code of Canon Law makes this clear: "It is for the Roman Pontiff, according to the needs of the Church, to select and promote the ways by which the College of Bishops is to exercise its function collegially regarding the universal Church"[127]. It is the key to their 'walking together'"[67]. 7. Only Bishops took part in the Ecumenical Councils celebrated in the First Millennium. Vatican II, Decree Unitatis Redintegratio 11c. [38]Blessed Pius IX, Encyclical Letter Ubiprimum nullus(1849), n. 6. Every synodal assembly evolves in successive phases: preparation, celebration and implementation. "Every renewal of the Church is essentially grounded in increase of fidelity to her own calling"[130]. By virtue of baptism, every member of the People of God is given a share in this authority, having received the "anointing of the Holy Spirit" (cf.
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