Five Things You Can Do to Support the Synod

Pope Francis, followed by Bishops and Cardinals, coming out of the Paul VI Hall during the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family on October 5, 2015. (Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis, followed by Bishops and Cardinals, coming out of the Paul VI Hall during the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family on October 5, 2015. (Catholic News Agency) (photo: Screenshot)

The Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family is underway.

So, there’s nothing left to do but sit back and wait for the results, right?

Wrong.

During his Angelus address on the Feast of the Holy Family, 2013, Pope Francis asked the faithful (that includes you and me) to pray for both the Extraordinary Synod on the Family which took place October 5-19, 2014 and the Ordinary Synod, taking place October 4-25, 2015.

In a Letter to Families, the Holy Father wrote:

"May we all, then, pray together so that through these events the Church will undertake a true journey of discernment and adopt the necessary pastoral means to help families face their present challenges with the light and strength that comes from the gospel."

Clearly, the Pope is asking our prayerful support for the synod, and so we should give it. As was the case with the Extraordinary Synod last year, this year’s Ordinary Synod will define the directions the Church needs to go in order to best serve and prosper the family in the Church and society.

That’s huge.

You might think the Synod is just a bishop-thing, but it’s not. It’s your thing, too. And I’ve come up with five ways you, me, all of us, can support the Synod.

1. Throughout these days, say the prayer written by Pope Francis for the Synod:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love,
to you we turn with trust. 

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing. 

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God's plan. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer. Amen.

2. Realize that there is going to be a ton of media hype and speculation about the Synod, and take it for what it’s worth: hype and speculation. Don’t let it rattle you, and don’t get caught up in it.

3. Be informed. Sounds like I’m contradicting myself, but I’m not. Read about Synods on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website so that you can fully understand what a synod is in general, and what the current Synod is all about. Even if you’ve read it once; read it again as a refresher.

4. Love your own family. Sounds simple, but it’s not. These are critical days for the future of the family, and making sacrifices to offer for that intention will help greatly. Consciously perform acts of corporal and spiritual mercy for each other, and offer them up.

5. Adopt a Synod Father. It’s not too late – prayers are retrospective in God’s timing. The Vatican has published a list of Synod participants, and they need prayers for courage, wisdom, and fortitude. Choose one – or two – from the list and make it a point to pray, not just once, but two or three times a day for that bishop throughout the Synod. It can be a very brief prayer. You may want to continue your prayers after that, since there will be much fallout from the Synod, and they’ll still need your prayers.

Above all, don’t sit back, but rather be actively committed to the family and your Catholic faith in all that you say and do.