As soon as the opening of this Second Synodal Assembly was celebrated with the Eucharist in St. Peter’s Square, we began the sessions alternating the times dedicated to the round tables, groups of 12 people, called smaller circles, with the large group, the general congregation.
Always following the Working Document, we progressed through its chapters or nuclei: Foundations – Relationships – Itineraries or processes – Places – Conclusion.
The initial prayer of the day is always included in the schedule, with psalms, the Word of God, silence and sometimes with comments from one of the participants or from our spiritual guides: Maria Ignazia Angelini, Benedictine, and Timothy Radcliffe op.
This sister reminded us that
“The original place of encounter, for Jesus, is the regenerated interiority”. Timothy, commenting on the passage of the Syro-Phoenician woman, told us: “the future can appear from the non-places”.
We alternate daily work in the classroom with other celebrations.
On the 11th, the anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, we had an Ecumenical Vigil in the Piazza dei Protomartyrni Romani, very close to St. Peter’s, animated by the brothers of Taizé. It was a moment of deep and simple prayer, with our candles lit in our hands and our hearts open to all the churches.
On the 16th, we celebrated the Eucharist in Spanish in St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico, who stressed that the only way to overcome
“The only way to overcome human selfish disorder, the cause of all evil actions, is to let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit. Only in this way will we be able to obtain its fruits”.
The afternoon of the 18th, initially a time for rest, was occupied by dialogue with members of the commissions that are studying some of the topics entrusted to them by Pope Francis and whose work had already been presented to us in the Aula. We were able to dialogue and contribute suggestions and points to be taken into account in these commissions.
And on Saturday 19, Pope Francis will receive all the synodal women. We are a very large group and we are looking forward to meeting him. But this will be the subject of the next chronicle.
On Sunday 20, as we know, the canonization of the Blessed of Damascus took place, among them 7 Spaniards.
And we continue walking to start the fourth and last week, which aims to finish the document that we are already working on, to vote on it and present it to the Pope.
We continue to count on the prayers that support and encourage us to continue giving the best of each person, with very varied tasks and responsibilities, but all trying to live communion.
Until the next chronicle.
María Luisa Berzosa González FI, Rome
