Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Catholics pray during the Oct. 17, 2021 Mass at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Mount Washington that marked the opening of synodal planning for church renewal. (Rick Lippenholz/Special to the Catholic Review)

‘Habits of the Heart’


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Charity in Truth, Commentary

We celebrated the opening Mass for the Synod on Synodality with the archdiocesan community Oct. 17. It was during this celebration that I spoke of three “habits of the heart” that are vital to possess to put true synodality into practice for a successful synod.

The first and most important synodal “habit of the heart” is prayer. Frankly, without prayer, there is no synodality. Prayer allows us to withdraw from the noise of daily life and allows us to hear the voice of Christ communicated by the Holy Spirit. If our hearts are open to Christ, they are more open to the people around us, to their aspirations, needs and experiences.

For this reason, every step in this process must be prayerful, not merely the recitation of the Synod Prayer, but imbued with a prayerful listening to Scripture, quiet reflection, adoration and praise. Some may think prayer is fruitless and that we need to get on with business – but unless we pray, we will only deepen our divisions and thwart God’s will.

A second synodal “habit of the heart” is fidelity to the authentic faith of the Church through which we encounter the person of Christ in a real and a living way.

God’s truth is the one faith we already profess, the faith we already strive to understand and live. This truth is the faith of which we, as a holy people, have a supernatural sense, when we are guided by the Holy Spirit and attentive to the magisterium.

Within the household of the faith, there have always been differences of opinion, and there will always be such, until the Lord comes again in glory. Yet, not one of us, from the best-­educated to the newest inquirer, is “above” the faith. Rather, all of us must accept it with the childlike simplicity of heart, while remaining alert to the signs of the times, to pastoral challenges and opportunities.

Fidelity does not throw cold water on listening and dialogue, but brings us together around something larger, richer and more beautiful than whatever limits and divides us.

In St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he lists his own series of “habits of the heart” that will also help carry us through the steps of this synodal process. He states: “Encouragement in Christ, solace in love … participation in the Spirit” are all important as we journey together. We must help one another along the way, console one another, and participate together in the wisdom and love of the Holy Spirit.

St. Paul calls us to compassion and mercy for each other, while urging us to be “of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.” He is not signaling lockstep uniformity of thought, but rather deep unity in faith and love that helps us to listen to and understand one another as we journey outward on mission, implanting the faith as a leaven in secular culture.

St. Paul also adds one other quality that is helpful for the practice of synodality and this is our third habit: ­selflessness – regarding the other as more important than oneself, looking out not for one’s own interests or agendas, but for the good of others.

The path of synodality, journeying together in faith and on mission, is not easy. As this process unfolds, we may become more aware of what divides us.

Yet, if we are open to the Holy Spirit, who reminds us of all that Christ taught us, we will find new paths to understanding; to harmony, cooperation and unity; to co-responsibility for the Church’s mission, coupled with renewed apostolic vigor.

Responding to Pope Francis’ summons to synodality with openness and love, we will strengthen the Church’s communion, participate in God’s life more profoundly and advance the Church’s mission beyond the walls of our churches.

For more on the synodal process in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, visit archbalt.org/synod

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