This week, as we enter into the first Vatican meeting on the Synod on Synodality, a meeting long-time Vatican watchers are saying could be the most significant church event since Vatican II, I am finding myself thinking about Paul's call to 'pray without ceasing'. In our busy lives, what does praying without ceasing actually look like, is it something we would even want to do, and what is the good fruit that comes from prayer for us and for our Church?
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Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode.
Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself:
1. America Magazine coverage on the Synod on Synodality
2. Overview of the Synod from America Media
3. Podcast: Inside the Vatican
4. Podcast: Pope Francis Generation
5. Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the Earth. Oh God who, by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolation through Christ our Lord, amen.
6. Song: Down to the River to Pray, by Alison Krauss
7. Song: Garden, by Matt Maher
8. Episodes: The Rosary with Fr. Frank McFarland on Boston Catholic Television
9. Book: Personal Prayer - A Guide for Receiving the Father's Love, by Fr. Thomas Acklin and Fr. Boniface Hicks
10. My little daily devotional book: Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young
11. Book: Help Thanks Wow, by Anne Lamott
