In preparation for the opening of The Synod on Synodality in Rome on Wednesday 4 October, Pope Francis will preside over the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in St Peter’s Square on Saturday, 30 September. This vigil of prayer will welcome the participation and presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I; the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and many other Church leaders, as well as thousands of Christians from different denominations.
The programme leading up to the prayer and the ecumenical vigil will be transmitted live by Vatican Media via its YouTube channel, with translation into eight different languages.
In order to “walk together” and listen to the Holy Spirit we need to pray. There can be no communion, participation, and mission without personal and community prayer. Prayer prepares our hearts to listen carefully to others and helps us to discern the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in the life of our church, and throughout the world. Let us pray, therefore, that the coming synod may become an opportunity for genuine renewal among our laity, religious and ordained ministers, so that we can grow together in greater synodality into a more participatory Church strengthened in its mission to proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the mission entrusted to Her. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 15:5-6).
You and your families are encouraged to pray for the success of the Synod in your own words or in the words of the Adsumus Sancte Spiritus below.
We stand before you Holy Spirit,
as we gather together 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 of this we ask of You
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and Son
forever and ever.
Amen