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Whenever bishops gather together to deliberate on important matters in a council or synod, they traditionally recite a special invocation to the Holy Spirit.
According to the official website of the 2021-2023 Synod, this tradition was repeated during the Second Vatican Council.
Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the prayer Adsumus Sancte
Spiritus, the first words of the Latin original meaning, “We stand before You, Holy Spirit,” which has been historically used at Councils, Synods and other Church gatherings for hundreds of years, being attributed to St. Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 4 April 636).
Here is an English translation of this prayer, which will be used in the upcoming Synod on Synodality.
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen.
And today we celebrate...