A Message from Rev. Msgr. Alfred P. LoPinto on the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi

The Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi is an extremely significant day in the life of the Roman Catholic Church.  In the spirit of St. Francis, Pope Francis used October 4 to issue an Apostolic Exhortation, LAUDATE DEUM.  The exhortation is a follow up to his encyclical letter, LAUDATO SI, issued eight years ago.  The focus of the exhortation is the climate crisis, which we are experiencing in the extreme weather conditions that are becoming common occurrences. I am linking a copy of the Exhortation here.

The other significant event is the opening in Rome of the Synod on Synodality.  For the first time cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay women and men are gathered together from around the world to dialogue and process information the diocesan, national convenings that took place in anticipation of the Rome event.  The aim is to unearth through prayer and dialogue under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the mission of the Church going forward.  Synodality as a modus operandi implies the Holy Spirit operates in the Church through all the People Of God.  Please find below a prayer for the Synod.

We stand before you Holy Spirit, as we gather in your name.
With you alone to guide us, make yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
Nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in you our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
And not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask you, who are at work in every place and time,
In communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.