From the little I've read about the Synod, I get the impression that it's another dog and pony show and that the outcome has already been decided. That seems to be the purpose of Synods these days - giving the impression that the Church isn't really the hierarchical body it actually is, and that the sensus fide of the (specially selected) participants is influencing the hierarchy. It's kinda old hat now. The Germans look for outrageous changes that they know cannot be permitted, traditionalists suspicious of Pope Francis go into panic mode, the Vatican appears to dash the Germans' hopes in the early stages, the show goes on, and the post Synodal documents will give enough leeway for the Germans to appear to be grudgingly compliant while everyone else breathes a sigh of relief. Let them at it. We know what's required for our own salvation. Best to concentrate on that. Our Lady of Fatima said "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph". Our Lady doesn't waste words. I don't believe that "In the end" is some interim period before the Second Coming of Jesus but I realise that my understanding of what she said probably puts me in a minority of one on the forum.
‘In time, one faith, one baptism, one Church, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic. In eternity, Heaven!’ This word ‘Heaven’ filled my heart with peace and happiness in such a way that, almost without being aware of it, I kept repeating to myself for a long time: Heaven, Heaven!! -Sister Lucy
Interestingly, it was precisely this vision that gave Sister Lucia the strength to write the text of the third secret.
Your understanding of Our Lady's words is perfectly plausible and ought not be discounted. Thank you for a succession of great posts.
Synod on Synodality’s ‘most fertile time’ will be before next assembly, Radcliffe says Father Timothy Radcliffe told the Synod on Synodality delegates on Oct. 23, 2023, that the time before the 2024 assembly "will be probably the most fertile time of the whole synod, the time of germination."/ Credit: Vatican Media By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 23, 2023 / 07:27 am Father Timothy Radcliffe said Monday that “the most fertile time” of the Synod on Synodality will be the months of “active waiting” leading up to the final 2024 synod assembly. Speaking at the livestreamed opening of the general congregation on Oct. 23, Radcliffe likened the months of waiting between the two synod assemblies to “a pregnancy.” “In a few days’ time, we shall go home for 11 months. This will be apparently a time of empty waiting. But it will be probably the most fertile time of the whole synod, the time of germination,” the English Dominican said. “These 11 months will be like a pregnancy,” he added. “We, my brothers and sisters, are pregnant with new life.” Radcliffe, who serves as the spiritual adviser to the synod, also warned delegates not to speak negatively when they return home from Rome, quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “‘Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths’” (Eph 4:29). Little has been made public regarding what will take place between the two synod assemblies. Synod spokesman Paolo Ruffini has confirmed that the synod delegates attending this month’s assembly will be returning to Rome next year for the October 2024 synod assembly. Synod organizers have also said that a new Instrumentum Laboris, or working document, for the 2024 assembly will be written based, in part, on the synthesis document produced at the end of the 2023 gathering. Radcliffe described the gap between the synod assemblies as “a time of active waiting,” noting that it will be “hard for many people to understand what we are doing.”
“When we go home, people will ask, ‘Did you fight for our side? Did you oppose those unenlightened other people?’ We shall need to be profoundly prayerful to resist the temptation to succumb to a party-political way of thinking,” he said. “That would be to fall back into the sterile, barren language of much of our conflictual society. It’s not the synodal way. The synodal process is organic and ecological rather than competitive. It’s more like planting a tree than winning a battle.” Radcliffe encouraged the delegates to reflect on how their words can “nurture the tender plant that is the synod” after leaving the 2023 assembly. “Will we speak fertile, hope-filled words, or words that are destructive and cynical? Will our words nurture the crop or be poisonous? Will we be gardeners of the future or trapped in old sterile conflicts? We each choose,” he told the delegates. Radcliffe is one of two “spiritual assistants” who helped to lead the meditations for the retreat and the prayers throughout the synod assembly this month, along with 79-year-old Mother Maria Grazia Angelini. Angelini told the synod delegates in her spiritual reflection at the start of the final week of the assembly that the synod meeting has been a “month of sowing,” like Jesus’ parable of the sower. “Today — in a culture of striving for supremacy, profit, and ‘followers,’ or escapism — the patient sowing of this synod is, in itself, like a deeply subversive … and revolutionary act,” the Italian sister said. “Thus, the synod seems to me to find itself called to dare a synthesis-as-sowing, to open a path toward a new form, the reform that life itself demands,” she said. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ca...e-will-be-before-next-assembly-radcliffe-says
Radcliffe seems to compare the defense of traditional doctrine to a political position or, what is worse, to poison.
SO troubling. Old sterile conflicts??? Translation. Old defense of the Deposit of the Faith. Yes. Conflicts indeed. Do I dialogue or accompany someone trying to dismantle my MOTHER???? I don't THINK so. God have mercy in Thy great Mercy.
Though we still await a summary of this month's session, I sadly don't think it will be hard to understand... As Pope Francis encouraged recently: In Portugal for World Youth Day, one of Catholicism's largest gatherings, Pope Francis has said he'll continue urging young people to “make a mess”... _________________________________________________________________ It is not hard to understand Jesus, but hard to obey... John 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Some of Jesus' commandments from Matthew 5 and following: 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment... 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 32 But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all...37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... 24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 21 “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
It does indeed. I get the impression that it may not bode well for those who were in attendance at the Synod to break the code of silence to express concerns.
Wow; Pope Francis speaks clearly: no ambiguity, double-talk, or hesitation! Hooray! Have to give credit where credit is due!
Pope Francis even appeals to Tradition, including Apostolic Tradition! I still cling to the unlikely hope that his purpose is to draw out the poison and excommunicate the lot of them when they've identified themselves, in confidence of his support. Let us pray that we might have a Poultice Pope.
