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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The synodal reflection should favor the knowledge and love of the Word of God, which is living, effective, and penetrating, with the purpose of rediscovering the infinite goodness of God who reveals Himself to man as his friend, who remains with Him, and who invites him into communion with Him. Furthermore, through the Word of God, there is the hope of strengthening ecclesial communion, nurturing the universal vocation to salvation, intensifying the missions near and far, and renewing the creativity of charity, seeking to contribute in finding solutions to the many problems of modern man, who hungers for both bread and for every word that come forth from the mouth of God. More particularly, the purpose of the Synod, according to the Instrumentum Laboris, is above all of a pastoral and missionary nature.” With these words, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, presented the Instrumentum Laboris of the 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to take place at the Vatican October 5-26 of this year, with the theme: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.”
As Archbishop Eterovic recalls, “in order to see how much work needs to be done in this area, it is enough to mention that the Bible is translated into 2,454 languages, of the 6,700 languages that exist in the world, of which 3,000 are considered to be of principle importance. The Bible is the most translated and widespread book in the world, however, unfortunately it is not read. According to a recent study by Gfk-Eurisko, only 38% of practicing Catholics in Italy have read a Scriptural passage in the last year. The percentage drops to 27%, if only the Italian adult Catholic population is considered. Over 50% consider Sacred Scripture difficult to understand, in Italy and other countries that were asked. It is clear that the people need to be introduced and guided, in order to reach an ecclesial understanding of the Bible.”
The Synod will reflect, first of all, “the unity between the bread of the Word and the Eucharist, between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist...The liturgical motive is essential, font of Christian life whose end is charity and the mission. In fact, the Word of God is at the heart of a call. Directed towards many, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, it creates communion, inspires charitable initiatives for the poor and those in need of both material and spiritual goods, and by virtue of its own dynamism, it opens hearts to the mission, so that what the Christian has freely received, he may now share with others.” The Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops also mentioned that the upcoming Synod would have two main reference points: the preceding Synod on the Eucharist and the Pauline Year. “The memory of Saint Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, never ceases to inspire a renewed missionary impulse in the Church, at the service of the entire human race. The center of this dynamism is the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church.”
The Instrumentum Laboris is divided into three parts, not including an introduction and conclusion.
1) The first part is entitled: “The Mystery of God Who Speaks to Us,” divided into three chapters. In the first, there is an explanation of the term “Word of God,” that takes up considerable amplitude in Divine Revelation. The second is dedicated the topic of inspiration and the truth of Sacred Scripture and its relation to the Word of God. The third chapter focuses on the attitude of the believer before the Word of God.
2) The second part, “The Word of God in the Life of the Church,” is divided into two chapters. The first, explains that the Word of God enlivens the Church, that is born and lives from the Word of God. The second describes the Word of God in the Church’s many services.
3) The third part, “The Word of God in the Mission of the Church,” holds three chapters. The first refers to the mission of the Church in proclaiming the Word of God in building the Kingdom of God. This mission takes place in evangelization and catechesis. At the heart of them both is the Word of God. The second speaks of how to fulfill the common vocation of the faithful to receive and give the Word of God. The third, is dedicated to interreligious and ecumenical relations, not undermining the Biblical links that exist even with those who declare themselves to be distant from the Church and even non-believers, referring to the dialogue that should accompany the mission.
Monsignor Fortunato Frezza, Undersecretary for the Synod of Bishops, also spoke during the presentation of the Instrumentum Laboris, highlighting that the Word of God is “an immense topic, even for an Assembly like the Synod of Bishops, not so much for its quantity and amplitude, but for its greatness and profundity; for its dignity, its holiness; for its origin, history, and destination.”
“The Church is enabled by her Lord to receive, live, and announce this Divine Word, through the ministry of her pastors and the faithful listening of her children,” Msgr. Frezza continued. “With all its greatness and magnitude, the Word is given to men, it has been formed for them...The Synodal Fathers have been asked to carry out a long debate, that has a historical ancestry rich in ecclesial value, that is, the Second Vatican II. We could say that the Instrumentum Laboris is, in some way, a kind of re-elaboration of the conciliar constitution “Dei Verbum,” that has undergone experience, meditation, theological reflection, the pastoral praxis of the Church at the end of the 20th century and at the dawn of the 21st century.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/06/2008)
