VATICAN CITY, 15 OCT 2008 (VIS) - The Seventeenth General Congregation of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began today at 4.30 p.m. in the presence of the Holy Father and 236 Synod Fathers. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the session was dedicated to the presentation of the "Relatio post disceptationem" (report after the discussion).
A total of 229 Synod Fathers, nine fraternal delegates and 22 auditors have spoken thus far over the course of the General Congregations.
Speaking Latin, Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada, relator general of the Synod, read out the "Relatio post disceptationem" on the Synod's theme of "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church". His report summarised the proposals made by the Synod Fathers during the General Congregations and suggested guidelines to facilitate the work of the language groups and the preparation of the pastoral proposals to put before the Holy Father.
An English-language summary has been released according to which: This synthesis emerges from the interventions made in the Hall after the "Relatio ante disceptationem", and is elaborated from the general outline in ten chapters, chosen by the Relator General and developed with the help of the Special Secretary and the Experts. Following the division used in the "Instrumentum laboris", the material is presented in three parts.
The first part is entitled "God speaks and hears" and contains three points: (1) Revelation, creation, the history of salvation; (2) Christ, the Spirit and the Church; (3) the Word of God, liturgy, listening. The first point begins with a consideration on the reflection of the Benedict XVI who, commenting on Psalm 18, recalled that the Word of God is solid, it is reality, it is the stable and lasting foundation of every thing. Beginning with this invitation to a new realism based on the Word of God, the Synodal Assembly - the Relator General explained - led to a very worthwhile discussion.
The synthesis continues dealing with the topic of "Revelation and Intra-Trinitarian Dialogue", the dialogic characteristic of the Word, whose foundations can be found in the Mystery of the Trinity and which calls man to dialogue; the "Word of God and the history of salvation", the revelation as a dialogical movement in which God addresses His creatures and leads them to the fullness of salvation; finally, the history of salvation, achieved in the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Word and in the definitive gift of the Holy Spirit.
The second point presents Christ, the fullness and achievement of the Trinitarian revelation; Christ, the sole mediator, and dialogue; the Mystery of the Church, the action of the Holy Spirit and the interpretation of the Scriptures.
The third point recalls the sacramental dimension inherent in the Word of God and the importance, underlined by many interventions by the Synod Fathers, that the relationship existing between the Word of God and the liturgy and, in particular, the Eucharistic liturgy, should be reinforced; the anthropological dimension of God's revelation in His Word, whereby man is a being called to hear the Word; the Church, mother and teacher of listening to the Word of God; finally, the relationship between the Word and vocation, the Word and the poor, Word, silence and prayer, the Word and faith, the Word and holiness.
The second part is entitled: "The Word of God, Holy Scripture, Tradition" and is developed in four points: (1) Event, encounter, interpretation, (2) Unity, primacy, circularity; (3) Eucharist, homily, community; (4) Exegesis, theology, "lectio divina".
In the first point, "Event, encounter, interpretation" the Word of God is presented as an event in history. Many interventions underlined the fact that the Word of God as such cannot be merely identified with the Sacred Scripture, although the two terms are often believed to be synonymous. In fact, the doctrine expressed in "Dei Verbum" clearly states that the Word of God is transmitted inseparably in the inspired written Word (Holy Scriptures) and in the living Tradition of the Church.
The synthesis continues dealing with the interpretation and the connection between Sacred Scripture and the life of the faithful in the Church; the Word of God and the cultural challenges of our times.
In the second point, called "Unity, primacy, circularity", the themes of unity and the primacy of the Word of God are presented, as well as the unity of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium expressed by "Dei Verbum"; the work of the Holy Spirit in the triple-connection Scripture-Tradition-Magisterium.
The third point, "Eucharist, homily, community" deals with the relationship between Scripture and the Eucharist, with the question, which emerged from the Synodal discussion, on how to privilege, among the faithful, a more unitary perception of this relationship; the sacramental dimension of the Word, the Word and eschatological dimension; the celebration of the Word; the importance of the homily; art as an analogical form of preaching; finally, the relationship between the Word of God, celebration and community.
"The fourth point, "Exegesis, theology, 'lectio divina'", deals with the relationship between exegesis and theology and presents 'lectio divina' as the individual and community reading of a passage, recalling that the approach to the sacred text, when personally done by the faithful, cannot be separated from communion and from the ecclesial context.
Finally, the third part is called "The Word of God, mission, dialogue" and contains three points: (1) Witness, kerygma, catechesis; (2) Culture, dialogue, commitment; (3) Communication, proclamation, translations. In this part, under the second point "Culture, dialogue, commitment", the Word of God is presented as an ecumenical bond and the source of dialogue between the faithful and Jews.
The synthesis continues by presenting the Word of God in the sphere of inter-religious dialogue, in its relationship with cultures and as a call to commitment. Many Synod Fathers spoke about inculturation, and an intervention in the Hall pointed out the Christological foundation of this. The last point focuses on the urgency, expressed many times by the Synod Fathers, in making the Bible available in all languages, including the unwritten ones; deals with new possibilities of transmitting the Holy Scriptures through the modern means of communication, underlines the proposal mentioned by several Synodal Fathers to create a specific ministry or to enhance the lectorate in the Church.
In conclusion, the Relator General recalled how all the Synod Fathers feel the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel and how the new possibilities of communication invite one to take on the original initiative to spread the knowledge and to love Christ and the Scriptures, to favour the unity of Christians and to contribute to justice and peace in the world.
SE/RELATIO POST DISCEPTATIONEM/OUELLET VIS 20081016 (1130)
A total of 229 Synod Fathers, nine fraternal delegates and 22 auditors have spoken thus far over the course of the General Congregations.
Speaking Latin, Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., archbishop of Quebec, Canada, relator general of the Synod, read out the "Relatio post disceptationem" on the Synod's theme of "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church". His report summarised the proposals made by the Synod Fathers during the General Congregations and suggested guidelines to facilitate the work of the language groups and the preparation of the pastoral proposals to put before the Holy Father.
An English-language summary has been released according to which: This synthesis emerges from the interventions made in the Hall after the "Relatio ante disceptationem", and is elaborated from the general outline in ten chapters, chosen by the Relator General and developed with the help of the Special Secretary and the Experts. Following the division used in the "Instrumentum laboris", the material is presented in three parts.
The first part is entitled "God speaks and hears" and contains three points: (1) Revelation, creation, the history of salvation; (2) Christ, the Spirit and the Church; (3) the Word of God, liturgy, listening. The first point begins with a consideration on the reflection of the Benedict XVI who, commenting on Psalm 18, recalled that the Word of God is solid, it is reality, it is the stable and lasting foundation of every thing. Beginning with this invitation to a new realism based on the Word of God, the Synodal Assembly - the Relator General explained - led to a very worthwhile discussion.
The synthesis continues dealing with the topic of "Revelation and Intra-Trinitarian Dialogue", the dialogic characteristic of the Word, whose foundations can be found in the Mystery of the Trinity and which calls man to dialogue; the "Word of God and the history of salvation", the revelation as a dialogical movement in which God addresses His creatures and leads them to the fullness of salvation; finally, the history of salvation, achieved in the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Word and in the definitive gift of the Holy Spirit.
The second point presents Christ, the fullness and achievement of the Trinitarian revelation; Christ, the sole mediator, and dialogue; the Mystery of the Church, the action of the Holy Spirit and the interpretation of the Scriptures.
The third point recalls the sacramental dimension inherent in the Word of God and the importance, underlined by many interventions by the Synod Fathers, that the relationship existing between the Word of God and the liturgy and, in particular, the Eucharistic liturgy, should be reinforced; the anthropological dimension of God's revelation in His Word, whereby man is a being called to hear the Word; the Church, mother and teacher of listening to the Word of God; finally, the relationship between the Word and vocation, the Word and the poor, Word, silence and prayer, the Word and faith, the Word and holiness.
The second part is entitled: "The Word of God, Holy Scripture, Tradition" and is developed in four points: (1) Event, encounter, interpretation, (2) Unity, primacy, circularity; (3) Eucharist, homily, community; (4) Exegesis, theology, "lectio divina".
In the first point, "Event, encounter, interpretation" the Word of God is presented as an event in history. Many interventions underlined the fact that the Word of God as such cannot be merely identified with the Sacred Scripture, although the two terms are often believed to be synonymous. In fact, the doctrine expressed in "Dei Verbum" clearly states that the Word of God is transmitted inseparably in the inspired written Word (Holy Scriptures) and in the living Tradition of the Church.
The synthesis continues dealing with the interpretation and the connection between Sacred Scripture and the life of the faithful in the Church; the Word of God and the cultural challenges of our times.
In the second point, called "Unity, primacy, circularity", the themes of unity and the primacy of the Word of God are presented, as well as the unity of the relationship between Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium expressed by "Dei Verbum"; the work of the Holy Spirit in the triple-connection Scripture-Tradition-Magisterium.
The third point, "Eucharist, homily, community" deals with the relationship between Scripture and the Eucharist, with the question, which emerged from the Synodal discussion, on how to privilege, among the faithful, a more unitary perception of this relationship; the sacramental dimension of the Word, the Word and eschatological dimension; the celebration of the Word; the importance of the homily; art as an analogical form of preaching; finally, the relationship between the Word of God, celebration and community.
"The fourth point, "Exegesis, theology, 'lectio divina'", deals with the relationship between exegesis and theology and presents 'lectio divina' as the individual and community reading of a passage, recalling that the approach to the sacred text, when personally done by the faithful, cannot be separated from communion and from the ecclesial context.
Finally, the third part is called "The Word of God, mission, dialogue" and contains three points: (1) Witness, kerygma, catechesis; (2) Culture, dialogue, commitment; (3) Communication, proclamation, translations. In this part, under the second point "Culture, dialogue, commitment", the Word of God is presented as an ecumenical bond and the source of dialogue between the faithful and Jews.
The synthesis continues by presenting the Word of God in the sphere of inter-religious dialogue, in its relationship with cultures and as a call to commitment. Many Synod Fathers spoke about inculturation, and an intervention in the Hall pointed out the Christological foundation of this. The last point focuses on the urgency, expressed many times by the Synod Fathers, in making the Bible available in all languages, including the unwritten ones; deals with new possibilities of transmitting the Holy Scriptures through the modern means of communication, underlines the proposal mentioned by several Synodal Fathers to create a specific ministry or to enhance the lectorate in the Church.
In conclusion, the Relator General recalled how all the Synod Fathers feel the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel and how the new possibilities of communication invite one to take on the original initiative to spread the knowledge and to love Christ and the Scriptures, to favour the unity of Christians and to contribute to justice and peace in the world.
SE/RELATIO POST DISCEPTATIONEM/OUELLET VIS 20081016 (1130)
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