Friday, October 21, 2005

Word on the Synod ...

The 50 propositions (which were amended this week) will be voted on tomorrow (Saturday is not a holiday in the Vatican, one gathers). John Allen's "Word from Rome" has the scoop.

A few that caught my eye:

An amendment to proposition five, on "The Eucharist and the Church," adds a strong ecumenical note.

"The Eucharist stabilizes a strong bond of unity between the Catholic church and the Orthodox churches," it reads, "which have conserved the genuine and integral nature of the mystery of the Eucharist. The ecclesial character of the Eucharist could also be a privileged point in the dialogue with the communities born from the Reform."
Again, this is quite remarkable, and signifies a deep desire for unity with the East. There have already been quite a few symbolic steps in that direction in this pontificate. With the "communities born from the Reform" to consider the Eucharist to be a "privileged point" in dialogue seems, at least on the surface, to be naïve. The differences are just too deep. Or so it seems.

Proposition 36 suggests that in international celebrations the Mass be said in Latin, apart from the readings, the homily, and the Prayers of the Faithful, and that priests be trained from the seminary to use Latin prayers as well as Gregorian Chant. It also recommends that the faithful be educated to do so as well.
You know I like that! :)

Proposition 47 deals with "The Eucharist and Ecology," calling for "a change of mind and heart, facilitating a harmonic and responsible relationship between the human being and creation."
(I know at least one reader will beam at this ... :-))

Proposition 48 takes up the connection between the Eucharist and social justice.

It's pretty remarkable that the various propositions are public, another break in practice from the past. The relative openness and transparency of the synod is certainly refreshing. A sign, clealry, of Benedict's hand firmly on the helm. As Sandro Magister put it in his column, "Ratzinger's Revolution passes with flying colors,"

But it [Benedict's style] also has an effect upon the internal structure of the Church, that of its ordinary governance. The distance between the thought and action of Benedict XVI and the general mode of operating in offices of the Vatican is so clear that the curia has fallen silent and fearful at the prospect of the appointments and adjustments that the new pope will make.
A reminder, of course, that these propositions don't do anything in of themselves. It's what the Holy Father does with them that matters. For that we await the apostolic letter, which will be the Pope's response to the Synod. No hurry -- it'll be out in a year or so. :)

No comments: