Good Morning
In 2021, Pope Francis announced the beginning of the synod on synodality. It’s a tough name to get around. A synod about synods? Is that like a meeting about meetings? And why…. what…. WHO decided this should be the logo?
The Church has essentially embarked on a years long listening campaign to hear from all Catholics, specifically to those on the “peripheries of our world”, and have their voices inform the pastoral direction of the Church. Sounds like a good idea at face value. Let’s listen to the marginalized and learn how we can serve them better. I’m on board with that.
“This Synodal Process…is intended to enable the Church to better witness to the Gospel, especially with those who live on the spiritual, social, economic, political, geographical, and existential peripheries of our world.”
“This Synod is intended as a Synodal Process. The aim of this synodal process is not to provide a temporary or one-time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal Church in the long-term.
–From the Vatican’s official Synod on Synodality 2021-23 website
Sounds ok so far. However, I think many Catholics get concerned when the topics being promoted around the synod include the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions.
Regardless of how you feel about the synod, I think they are getting one thing right. For too long we have been less than welcoming toward the voices of the laity - especially those faithful to the teachings of the Church who value tradition and orthodoxy. It’s one of the main reasons I started this newsletter. A big part of our mission is highlighting those voices that aren’t necessarily being heard in our diocese. I think we need to hear from normal Catholics who want to help the Church but for whatever reason haven’t been listened to in the past.
So in the coming weeks The Rubric will be bringing you a lot of content focused on that idea - listening to regular Catholics. Catholics like you who have jobs and families and struggles and just want to do all they can to serve our Lord. I think you’re really going to enjoy it.
If you have a unique story to share or would like to be interviewed as a part of this effort, reach out in the comments or send and email to therubricnews@gmail.com.
Ok, let’s wrap this up.
Articles From This Week
A big thanks to reader Matthew Reding for submitting this article on Theology of the Body. We greatly appreciate his participation in our humble little newsletter and encourage all of our readers to submit their writings if they feel so called. Please email any and all submissions to therubricnews@gmail.com.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross and we were blessed to have Father Brian Straus pen an article for the occasion.
Articles Coming Next Week
Professor
will be continuing his series on Anthropology this Monday.This week we’ll also be sitting down with
to discuss young adult ministry and the great things happening in Springfield, MO.As mentioned above, we’ll be hosting a few interview style articles with Catholics around our great diocese. They aren’t finalized yet but keep an eye out for them in the near future.
On The Calendar
SAT Sep 16 - Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cypriot, Bishop, Martyrs
WED Sep 20 - Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
THU Sep 21 - Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
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