VATICAN CITY, OCT. 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here are summaries of the interventions from a fraternal delegate and a special invited guest, given Saturday morning at the 10th general congregation of the world Synod of Bishops, which is underway in the Vatican through Oct. 26. The theme of the assembly is «The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.»
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— Archmandrite IGNATIOS [Moysis Sotiriadis], Conselor of the Representative of the Greek Church to the European Union (Brussels) (BELGIUM)
«Magistra in the path of the Church Sacred Scripture, the Word of God, enlivens in omni tempore, genuinely interprets according to Sacred Tradition, every faithful and leads him to the Eucharist, that is to say the personal union with God the Logos.
However, the history of Christianity is full of crimes, sins and errors. There is a need for metanoia and the metamorphosis of our weak hearts.
Our society demands of us Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans) a common witness! Here lies our responsibility as pastors of the Church in the 21st Century! Here is the primary mission of the First Bishop of Christianity, and, above all, of the Pope who is Magister Theologiae: to be the visible and paternal sign of unity and to lead under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and according to Sacred Tradition, together with all the bishops of the world, all humanity to Christ the Savior!»
[Original text: Italian]— Br. ALOIS, Prior of Ecumenical Community of Taizé (FRANCE)
Concerning the transmission of faith to youth, our preoccupation is to link to the Church, and more concretely to the parishes, the spiritual thirst of those who come in pilgrimage to Taizé. To welcome them in a climate of trust, so that they may discover that God is already in them, even when their faith is small. Brother Roger tried to make the Liturgy of the Hours of our monastic community more accessible to them:
-Making the place for prayer more welcoming. Reading brief Biblical texts, keeping the more difficult texts for a catechesis outside of common prayer. Maintaining a long silence after the reading: eight to ten minutes. Singing the same phrase from Scripture or tradition for a few minutes. Having brothers or priests available each evening for confession or to listen to the young persons who wish to express something of themselves. Each Friday evening, placing one’s forehead on the Cross placed on the floor and, through this symbolism, entrust Christ with personal burdens and the suffering of the world.
«Two realities unite Christians: The Word of God and Baptism» (Instrumentum laboris 54). To listen to the Scriptures together introduces us through anticipation to a unity, perhaps an imperfect one but a real one. Could this common listening be made a greater part of our daily life, instead of being content with ecumenical prayer once a year?
[Original text: French]
