THE
P RTAL
October 2015
Page 6
Spirituality Matters
Antonia Lynn considers how to pray for the Synod
There is
an ancient tradition of the ‘vestibule of prayer’, which comes from the
monastic practice of statio - stopping for a few moments outside the chapel before
entering for prayer. Sr Joan Chittister describes this practice as ‘meant to centre us and make us conscious of
what we’re about to do, and make us present to God who is present to us.
Statio is the desire to do consciously what I might
otherwise do mechanically.’ I’m thinking of that today
because I’m quite sure that I need a statio space before
I pray about the Synod on the Family.
Praying mechanically rather than consciously, as Sr
Joan puts it, leaves us unaware of our preconceptions
and prejudices, forgetting that we pray not to change
God’s mind about anything, but that we ourselves
might be changed. I have read and heard so much about
the Synod over the last year; some of it measured and
charitable but most (if I may say so) quite the opposite.
I am feeling angry, confused, hurt, anxious,
exasperated; I need to pause in that vestibule and
acknowledge consciously how I am before God. As
Archbishop Michael Ramsey said, ‘Take heed to
thyself, that self which can deceive unless it is revealed
in naked simplicity before its God.’
Unexamined and unconfessed desires for a particular
outcome of our prayer can muffle the voice of the
Spirit within us who ‘intercedes with sighs too deep
for words,’ (Romans 8:26) ‘for we do not know how to
As Catholics we agree that this implies an extended
pray as we ought’.
family without precise definitions - whether they are
half-brothers, cousins or whatever, we are not told
Moving on, we do well to turn to scripture to help and don’t need to know. And Jesus, while his mother
us in our prayer, especially if we do it willing to be waits outside, points to his disciples and says, ’Here
challenged and surprised. For example, I think I know are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the
what I mean by the word ‘family’. But the word occurs will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister
only once in the New Testament (in the Authorised and mother.’ So, we’re really praying that we might
Version, anyway): it’s Ephesians 3:15, ‘…from whom find communion in some unexpected and ill-defined
every family in heaven and on earth takes its name’, places. Do we dare pray that?
and the word is patria, which is elsewhere translated
as ‘lineage’. It’s a broader, looser word than our modern
What is this will of Jesus’ Father, which we have
western concept of a ‘nuclear family’.
to follow to become his family? Keep praying with
scripture and you’ll find answers like this one from
During last year’s Synod the Holy Father invited us to Micah: ‘What does the Lord require of you but to do
pray: ‘Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your
too may be places of communion and prayer’. Have God?’ If I follow this thread of prayer from its vestibule
we stopped to consider what that means? The Holy to the heart of God’s word, I’ll find that in praying for
Family is the family of Jesus, and we are praying that the Synod I’m praying for myself - to be changed, to be
our families might become like them. Well, indeed… humbled. It’s a risky business, prayer.
but look at how the gospel speaks of the ‘brothers and
The second part will appear next month
sisters’ of Jesus.
contents page