Liturgica: Synodality as revealed in the celebration of liturgy
Readers may know that the Roman Catholic Church is currently in synod throughout the world. Pope Francis has invited members of the Church to rediscover and embed the characteristics of synodality into the very way of being Church together. Indeed, the ‘Synod on Synodality’ can be justifiably seen as a rehearsal in being a synodal Church, as it seeks to cultivate a habit of synodality.
Readers may know that the Roman Catholic Church is currently in synod throughout the world. Pope Francis has invited members of the Church to rediscover and embed the characteristics of synodality into the very way of being Church together. Indeed, the ‘Synod on Synodality’ can be justifiably seen as a rehearsal in being a synodal Church, as it seeks to cultivate a habit of synodality.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of liturgy as the habitual deed of the Church while the late Benedictine liturgical scholar, Aidan Kavanagh, is oft quoted as saying that Liturgy is the Church caught in the act of being itself! It strikes me, then, that we shouldn’t be surprised to see the core principles and characteristics of synodality already articulated in the Church’s understanding of liturgy. While obviously not its primary purpose, we can look to the doing of liturgy itself as a school of synodality. Where do we see synodality embodied in the liturgy? I make the following suggestions as only a start.
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