The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Round
Models of Organization:
Can They Work? 12/06/2023 |
We have been meditating in recent DM’s on the round model of the recent synod in Rome. It comes from the Global South. |
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, spoke recently about how in 2007 CELAM (the Episcopal Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean) met in Aparecida, Brazil. That conference was “a kind of synodal process of the South American bishops” and “the only continent that has made such a synodal process.” |
Logo of CELAM: Episcopal Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean. Wikimedia Commons. |
It
resulted in the bishops developing “a kind of dynamic of working together and looking for solutions together.” Its purpose was “better evangelization” in order to “accompany the people in their suffering, in their difficulties, and in their challenges.” A commission was appointed to write a document
addressing how to “transmit the faith from one generation to the next” in a new cultural context, and Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina—the future Pope Francis—was chosen president of that commission. |
Pope Francis, once referred to as “the People’s Pope,” here among the people in St. Peter’s Square in 2013, two months after his election. Photo by Edgar Jimenez on Wikipedia. | When Cardinal Pierre read it, he exclaimed: “My God, this is new!” He saw it as “a new pastoral approach. I saw it working in Mexico. It changes the church.” Nine years later, arriving in the
US, he was “astounded that many of the bishops didn’t know what had happened in Aparecida” |
because “what has happened was not banal. It was the beginning of what we live today….The whole South American church has made a tremendous effort at synodality.” Cardinal Pierre recognizes that “almost nobody comes [to church] anymore…so Pope Francis said ‘Go out of the
church.’ But we still remain in the church. Why?” This is why Pope Francis says, “I want a missionary church. I want a church of the poor that goes out to the poor.” When asked about the US church, Cardinal Pierre says that “We cannot just go to sleep…. We have structures, [but] the question is ‘Do
they work?’”* |
*See America: Jesuit Review, "Cardinal Pierre on why the U.S. bishops are struggling to connect with Pope Francis," by Gerard O'Connell. HERE
See Matthew Fox, “Sexuality and Compassion: From Climbing Jacob’s Ladder to Dancing Sarah’s Circle,” in Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion, pp. 36-67.
See also, Fox, Meister
Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 215f. And Fox, A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality and the Transformation of Christianity.
Banner image: Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil,
the second largest basilica in the world after the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City. Wikipedia. Creative Commons.
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Queries for Contemplation “Almost nobody comes to church anymore.” Do you think a more round ecclesial structure would make a difference in organized Christianity
today? And in other institutions as well? What other issues are at stake? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Matthew’s weekly video reflection now appears each Monday — watch for it! |
Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises.
Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
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Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward |
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A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the
meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest
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A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality & The Transformation of Christianity
A modern-day theologian’s call for the radical transformation of Christianity that will allow us to move once again
from the hollow trappings of organized religion to genuine spirituality. A New Reformation echoes the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 and offers a new vision of Christianity that values the Earth, honors the feminine, and respects science and deep ecumenism.
“This is a deep and forceful book….With prophetic insight, Matthew Fox reveals what has corrupted religion in the West and the therapy for its
healing.” ~Bruce Chilton, author of Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical, cosmic
picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox has created a narrative, for every parent and grandparent, both spiritual and scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness: What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their
conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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