Vatican, 10 October, 2023 / 8:22 pm (ACI Africa).
After the first session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission", started last week in the Vatican, faithful around the world may ask themselves: What can we do now for the ongoing Synod? How can we contribute to its outcomes? Here are a series of suggestions.
- Invoke the Holy Spirit
To contribute to the work of the Synod you can recite the Adsumus Sancte Spiritus prayer, "We stand before you, Holy Spirit", to invoke the Holy Spirit upon the participants in the General Assembly. The prayer is attributed to Saint Isidore of Seville, who lived between 560 and 636, and it was prayed throughout the centuries in several councils, synods and church gatherings. It was published by the organizers of the synod, and is an opportunity for the faithful to unite and ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit for all the participants.
- Go to Holy Mass and Eucharistic adoration
To accompany the Synod in prayer, St. Peter’s Basilica is holding an additional hour of adoration in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament every evening until eight o'clock on weekdays in October. This allows participants in the Synod to pray in the evening after their meetings. You too can go to your parish as much as you can on weekdays and Sundays to participate in the Holy Mass, and Eucharistic adoration for the intention of this Synod.