Gozo Bishop Mario Grech’s reflections on the synod, as reported in The Sunday Times of Malta (November 2), inspired me to air my views as I ponder on the mission of the Church today.

A theme that has been alluded to in the synod of bishops last month is what is termed as the law of graduality. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster describes this law as one “of pastoral moral theology which permits people, all of us, to take one step at a time in our search for holiness in our lives”.

The concept of graduality places emphasis on the fact that all of us are born sinners and holiness is achieved gradually.

Francis Rocca, of the Catholic News Service, contends that graduality “allows for human imperfection without compromising ideals”.

Mgr Grech, in his discussion, affirms that “moral theology gives us the tools to make a subjective analysis based on the individual’s circumstances”. The bishop confesses that like any disciple, he also has a duty to deepen his knowledge of God and man and that this appreciation is acquired over time and not through ordination.

We, as parents, all know what is good for our children, but we still allow them to make mistakes and patiently wait and hope for their recovery and conversion.

All teachers are aware that success is achieved through hard work, effort and long processes of trial and error.

Also the Church, as a teacher and mother, besides professing its doctrine, accompanies us on our winding journey to holiness.

It has to patiently wait for our conversion even when we make mistakes or falter.

This is what the concept of graduality is all about. It’s about patience, perseverance and forgiveness rather than condemnation and judgement.

Let us, as members of the Church, keep on praying that the Holy Spirit keeps working and enlightening all those involved in the pastoral work of the Church so that through compassion, understanding and dialogue, the healing hand of Christ reaches one and all, focusing more on the love of God rather than on rules and regulations.