“Spirituality, ecclesiology and missionary path”, three foundations proposed by the Colombian cardinal to achieve synodality

He Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, archbishop of Bogotá and primate of Colombiawho was chosen in recent days as one of the 14 drafters of the final document of the Synod of Synodality, representing the Church of Central and South America, He spoke from the Vatican reflecting on what has been experienced so far in the 2nd session of the XVI General Assembly of the Synod.

The cardinal, together with Monsignor José Miguel Gómez, archbishop of Manizales, Monsignor Ricardo Tobón, archbishop of Medellín and Sister Gloria Liliana Franco, president of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women, are currently in Rome participating in the Synodal Assembly, representing the Colombian Church.

The archbishop of Bogotá, highlighted the beginning of the work of the Assembly, the two-day spiritual retreat that the synodal mothers and fathers lived, this one said, helped them biblically to find the roots and motivations of the work in the synodal assembly which is celebrated throughout the month of October 2024.

“They have been very illuminating, very profound moments and that leads us to feel that all synodality starts from spirituality“We must speak of a spirituality of communion, a synodal spirituality and a spirituality of the people of God,” he assured.

Then he remembered that during the week they had dedicated themselves to reflect on the three foundations that frame the synodal path: spirituality, ecclesiology and the missionary path, making reference to each of them.

Spirituality

He explained that the synodal experience is based on the Trinity, because this Trinitarian relationship reflects what an ecclesial community means and – he added – “The foundation of our synodal path is to contemplate the Trinitarian mystery. the relationships of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the missionary attitude of the Trinity in favor of all humanity and specifically the people of God.”

Ecclesiology

He then referred to ecclesiology of the Lumen Gentium constitution of the Second Vatican Council, where The Church is presented precisely as “the people of God on the way”this in order to capture and understand his conception of the Church and thus be able to enrich and renew ecclesial practice.

“In both the Old and New Testaments, the founding of the Church with the twelve Apostles, that full manifestation of the Church that Jesus of Nazareth makes with his disciples, whom he calls to be with him and to send them to announce the kingdom , inviting them to conversion, to transform the path of human beings and cultures.”

Missionary path

In this regard, he recalled that Synodality has a constitutively missionary dimension. That is, a mission of service, with open doors and that is in everyone’s hearts. He observed that To reach that missionary Church, formation of all members of the people of God is required.

“We must train and the formation of all members of God’s people begins with an encounter with Jesus Christan encounter with the person who calls us to be with him, an encounter with ourselves as human beings and an encounter with other people,” he pointed out.

Having spoken about these three foundations, the prelate indicated that this is how it is perceived to be The Holy Spirit is the one who leads the Church in diversity of races, languages, ways of being, historical contexts, but always “in the unity of the only people of God who are on the journey.”

He concluded his reflection, asking for the intercession of the Holy Spiritso that lay people, ordained ministers, consecrated life offer their lives in the service of others, working in brotherhood and holinessso that from there paths of reconciliation and peace can be found.”

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