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Synod of Bishops: 206 talks summarised


Bible Synod relator general Cardinal Marc Oullet yesterday presented a summary of the points made by the 260 bishops, delegates and auditors who have so far spoken at the event.

A total of 229 Synod Fathers, nine fraternal delegates and 22 auditors have spoken thus far over the course of the Synod General Congregations, VIS reports.

Speaking Latin, Cardinal Ouellet summarised the proposals made and suggested guidelines to facilitate the work of the language groups and the preparation of the pastoral proposals to put before the Pope.

An English language summary presents the material in three parts.

The first part is entitled "God speaks and hears" and contains three points: (1) Revelation, creation, the history of salvation; (2) Christ, the Spirit and the Church; (3) the Word of God, liturgy, listening.

The first point begins with a consideration of Pope Benedict reflections on Psalm 18, recalling that the Word of God is solid, it is reality, it is the stable and lasting foundation of every thing.

Another point recalls the sacramental dimension inherent in the Word of God and the importance, underlined by many interventions by the Synod Fathers, that the relationship existing between the Word of God and the liturgy and, in particular, the Eucharistic liturgy, should be reinforced.

The second part is entitled: "The Word of God, Holy Scripture, Tradition" and is developed in four points: (1) Event, encounter, interpretation, (2) Unity, primacy, circularity; (3) Eucharist, homily, community; (4) Exegesis, theology, "lectio divina".

In the first point, "Event, encounter, interpretation" the Word of God is presented as an event in history. Many interventions underlined the fact that the Word of God as such cannot be merely identified with the Sacred Scripture, although the two terms are often believed to be synonymous.

The synthesis continues dealing with the interpretation and the connection between Sacred Scripture and the life of the faithful in the Church; the Word of God and the cultural challenges of our times.

Another point, "Exegesis, theology, 'lectio divina'", deals with the relationship between exegesis and theology and presents 'lectio divina' as the individual and community reading of a passage, recalling that the approach to the sacred text, when personally done by the faithful, cannot be separated from communion and from the ecclesial context.

Finally, the third part is called "The Word of God, mission, dialogue" and contains three points: (1) Witness, kerygma, catechesis; (2) Culture, dialogue, commitment; (3) Communication, proclamation, translations. In this part, under the second point "Culture, dialogue, commitment", the Word of God is presented as an ecumenical bond and the source of dialogue between the faithful and Jews.

The synthesis continues by presenting the Word of God in the sphere of inter-religious dialogue, in its relationship with cultures and as a call to commitment. Many Synod Fathers spoke about inculturation, and an intervention in the Hall pointed out the Christological foundation of this.

The last point focuses on the urgency, expressed many times by the Synod Fathers, in making the Bible available in all languages, including the unwritten ones; deals with new possibilities of transmitting the Holy Scriptures through the modern means of communication, underlines the proposal mentioned by several Synodal Fathers to create a specific ministry or to enhance the lectorate in the Church.

In conclusion, the Relator General recalled how all the Synod Fathers feel the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel and how the new possibilities of communication invite one to take on the original initiative to spread the knowledge and to love Christ and the Scriptures, to favour the unity of Christians and to contribute to justice and peace in the world.

Source: VIS

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