Vatican ViewPoint 87. Synod Spirituality with Fr. Radcliffe: ‘The seed germinates’
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Jun 13, 2024 
Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, a Dominican friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers, shares profound insights on the spirituality of synodality. He likens the aftermath of the Synod to a pregnancy, emphasizing trust as seeds of change develop. With humor, he discusses communication mishaps while calling for compassionate listening and resisting divisive thinking. Radcliffe beautifully illustrates synodality as an organic endeavor, urging listeners to nurture growth rather than compete, fostering renewal within the Church.
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Words As Seeds Of Future Fruit
- The words spoken at the Synod are seeds sown in the Church's soil that will work subconsciously over months.
- Timothy Radcliffe says loving words will germinate unseen and bear fruit when the moment is ripe.
Synod Compared To A Pregnancy
- Timothy Radcliffe compares the Synod's eleven months to a pregnancy that will bring new life despite apparent barrenness.
- He recalls a humorous Spanish slip where saying a bishop was 'pregnant' illustrated cross-cultural speech pitfalls.
Practice Patient, Attentive Waiting
- Wait attentively rather than chase results, emptying the soul to receive people as they are.
- Timothy Radcliffe urges prayerful attentiveness and resistance to party-political thinking when returning home.