Rome (Italy). A few days after the official opening of the Synod of Bishops on the theme, “For a synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission”, Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod, sent a letter to the brothers and sisters called to monastic and contemplative life with the invitation to support the synodal journey with prayer:
“You, with your precious presence in the Church, teach us that prayer opens the heart and the ear to listening, makes us attentive to the action of the Holy Spirit, makes us considerate of the needs of others and of the world. There is no discernment without individual prayer and with other brothers and sisters. Synodality requires a personal and community conversion that flows and is sustained by prayer. Your prayer, which springs from silence and contemplation, can be of great help for the whole Church.”
In the Letter, the Cardinal illustrates the proposal of the world prayer experience that will accompany the Synod for its entire duration, entitled “THE CHURCH ON THE WAY. Pray for a synodal Church“:
“We have asked the Network of World Prayer of the Pope, with the support of the International Union of the Superiors General (UISG), to create a prayer site for the Synod, where the various entities of the Church can periodically publish prayer texts to be proposed to everyone for a truly synodal Church.”
He then expresses to the monastic communities the request to be the first supporters of the prayer experience:
“I am pleased that it is you, brothers and sisters called to the monastic and contemplative life, who are beginning to weave this invisible thread of prayer … We dream that it can be a prayer that comes from your community. We have decided to start with prayer, because this fundamental experience in your daily life is not evident to everyone in the world today. Praying can be considered a waste of time if we think about all the urgencies, sufferings, and needs that exist. We know that prayer is the breath of the soul and heart, where the Lord speaks to us.”
prayforthesynod.va is the prayer website which, as explained by Dr. Patrizia Morgante, head of UISG Communication, aims to be “a virtual contemplative space, where all believers can share their prayer for a synodal Church.” The site integrates with the Click to Pray App, the application launched in 2016 to support the Pope in the Church’s prayer intentions and updated in the new version.
The website expresses the intention of the initiative: “To ‘walk together’ in listening to the Holy Spirit we need to pray. There is no synodal journey without personal and community prayer. Prayer disposes our hearts to listen to others and helps us to discern the action of the Holy Spirit in the world.”
Until 31 October 2021, only prayers arriving from monasteries will be published on prayforthesynod.va, while from 1 November 2021, the entire world ecclesial community is invited to send prayers in different languages for publication, via the email indicated on the site. Prayers can be sent personally and also in the name of communities, groups, associations. Some will be highlighted on the site and shared via social networks and the Click to Pray App.
“The heart of the Church’s mission is prayer.” (Pope Francis)
Pour la gloire de Dieu