St Francis of Assisi, Pray for Us

This Wednesday, the feast of Francis of Assisi, patron of the pope, was a big day for the church. First of all, it was the day when the Synod on Synodality opened. The synod will run through most of the month of October. Here is a link to his homily at the mass opening the synod.

It was also the day that the pope’s new exhortation on the environment was released. This is a follow up to his encyclical on the environment, Laudato si, written eight years ago. Titled Laudate Deum, you can read that document here.

On the eve of the synod, a group of conservative cardinals issued a statement questioning some key parts of the synod. You can read an analysis of their statement and of Pope Francis’ response from the ever-astute John Allen here.

With all of this going on it is vitally important that we all take part. And what is our part? To pray. To ask the Holy Spirit to be with the church and guide it in this time of discernment. St Francis of Assisi, pray for us.

-Fr Lou