Extra: Pearls from the Synod

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn spirituality

Monday, October 2, 2023

Last night, I fell asleep reading a passably written book with a yet undisclosed mystery. I wanted to solve that mystery before sleeping, but Sandman prevailed. This morning, which I consider the most precious time of my day, I was tempted to pick up that book and satisfy my curiosity.

Then I said to myself, “What are you doing! This time belongs to the Holy Spirit.” So I picked up instead one of the beautiful reflections from the Synod Retreat.

As many of you know, the Synod on Synodality has begun in Rome. Currently, the invited participants are on a short retreat to prepare their hearts, minds, and spirits for the sessions which open on October 4 – the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The retreat is being offered by Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers, Father Timothy Radcliffe, and is available on the internet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Radcliffe

In my own prayer, I have been following the sessions and have found them deeply enriching. The session I prayed with today (meditation 3) particularly touched me.

I thought some of you might like to benefit from these sessions.  They are rich, direct, and profoundly simple with the deep simplicity of holiness. Certainly, they bear directly on the Synod itself, but they are universal in their wisdom and inspiration.

If you are not already familiar with the Vatican News website, I have included links to the sessions below. Even if you don’t have time now, the message they convey is timeless. You might like to access them some time at your leisure. But maybe, like me this morning, you might choose to use your current leisure for one of these transformative sessions instead of a middling book or a game of Candy Crush.

Meditation 1:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/retreat-day-1-radcliffe-first-meditation.html

Meditation 2:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/synod-retreat-meditation-conversation-on-the-way-to-emmaus.html

Meditation 3:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/synod-retreat-meditation-friendship.html

Meditation 4:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/synod-retreat-meditation-conversation-on-the-way-to-emmaus.html

In our leisure
we reveal
what kind of people we are.

Ovid
(Ovid a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus.
He  is most famous for the Metamorphoses, 
one of the most important sources of classical mythology today.)

Ovid

11 thoughts on “Extra: Pearls from the Synod”

  1. Sister Mary Catherine Mindling's avatar Sister Mary Catherine Mindling

    Thank you Renee, at Mass this morning the priest gave a special Synod prayer and blessing before the dismissal. I am not sure where to find that, but it is such a great prayer for all involved. I am so thrilled Elizabeth Davis, RSM, from Ireland and Angela Pérez, RSM, from Guam are right there!

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  4. graciously4's avatar graciously4

    Beautiful Reflection! Read the 2nd Meditation. I sensed a deep desire for Unity! Much hope to bring all together in God’s Love. Thank You Renee!

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