American Catholics Need to Shed Some Habits to Get in The Synodal Spirit

“The pope said, "You have come by many different roads and from different Churches, each bearing your own questions and hopes," thus affirming the need to engage, to share, to demonstrate parrhesia.

“He continued, "I am certain the Spirit will guide us and give us the grace to move forward together, to listen to one another and to embark on a discernment of the times in which we are living, in solidarity with the struggles and aspirations of all humanity."

“The Spirit will "guide" and "give," which suggests participants must be docile and receptive, the very opposite of assertive, agenda-driven and activist.

"I want to say again that the Synod is not a parliament or an opinion poll," the pope said. "The Synod is an ecclesial event and its protagonist is the Holy Spirit."

“I just hope we all will remember the pope's words: If the Spirit is not present, there will be no synod. We are not being called to discern how to win an argument. We are being called to discern what the Spirit wants for the church. We all need to make room for the Spirit. We all need to learn to be docile and receptive. And it will be especially hard for us Americans.”

Read more here: American Catholics Need to Shed Some Habits to Get in The Synodal Spirit