The 14th ordinary general assembly of the synod of bishops dedicated to ‘The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world’ has started at the Vatican. These quotes are from some of the Pope’s interventions so far.

The Church walking together to read reality

“The synod is not a convention or a talking club; it is not a parliament or a senate, where an accord is sought. [It is] is an ecclesial expression, that is, the Church that walks together to read reality with the eyes of faith, and therefore does not represent a museum to be looked at or protected, but is rather a living source from which the Church slakes its thirst so as to slake the thirst of life.”

Action of the Spirit

“The synod is a protected space where the Church can experience the action of the Holy Spirit. In the synod the Spirit speaks through the language of all those who let themselves be guided by God, who always surprises us, by God who shows to the smallest among us what He hides from the wise and the intelligent, by God who created the law and the Sabbath for man and not vice-versa, by God who leaves his 99 sheep to seek the one lost sheep, by God who is always greater than our logic and our calculations.”

Field hospital with doors wide open

“To carry out her mission in charity, not pointing a finger in judgment of others, but – faithful to her nature as a mother – conscious of her duty to seek out and care for hurting couples with the balm of acceptance and mercy; to be a ‘field hospital’ with doors wide open to whoever knocks in search of help and support; to reach out to others with true love, to walk with our fellow men and women who suffer, to include them and guide them to the wellspring of salvation.

“A Church which teaches and defends fundamental values, while not forgetting that ‘the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’ (Mk 2:27); and that Jesus also said: ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’ (Mk 2:17).”

Family of Nazareth

He later said: “To understand the family today, we too need to enter – like Charles de Foucauld – the mystery of the family of Nazareth, in its quiet daily life, not unlike that of most families, with their problems and simple joys, a life marked by serene patience amid adversity, respect for others, a humility which is freeing and flowers in service, a life of fraternity rooted in the sense that we are all members of one body.

“The family is a place where evangelical holiness is lived out in the most ordinary conditions. There we are formed by the memory of past generations and we put down roots which enable us to go far. The family is a place of discernment, where we learn to recognise God’s plan for our lives and to embrace it with trust.

“It is a place of gratuitousness, of discreet fraternal presence and solidarity, a place where we learn to step out of ourselves and accept others, to forgive and to be forgiven.”

Jimpurtani youth training seminar

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice will hold an interactive training seminar on October 23 and 24 to equip youth leaders with basic knowledge on Catholic social teaching. It will explore a newly published manual – X’Jimpurtani – containing 10 sessions about the impact of the media, fair trade, poverty, immigration, politics, the environment, work and war.

www.xjimpurtani.jesuit.org.mt

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)