SYNOD: MEANING AND TYPES OF SYNODS - DUDAS - 2024

The word " synodal " is a fact or event related to the synod, which in turn refers to a special meeting of bishops within the Catholic Church. In Latin American countries, "synodal" also refers to an examiner.

In turn, the term "synodal" has other meanings that are related not only to the official religion of the Vatican, but also to the Orthodox, Protestant religion or to sciences such as astronomy.

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Meaning

The word "synodal" comes from the Greek, composed of "syn" which means "together" and "hodos" which means "way"; all together means "walking together." The Royal Spanish Academy defines it as relative or concerning the "synod", a special meeting held by bishops of the Catholic Church or Protestant ministers.

Within the Catholic curia there is also the so-called "synodal examiner", a theologian who is appointed by the diocesan prelate to evaluate those who were selected for the sacred orders and to work with the parish ministries and preachers.

In Mexico, a "synodal" is a member of an academic tribunal. A similar definition has in almost all of America, where "synodal" is the court that examines students who want to obtain an academic or professional degree.

Types of synodal

-The Catholic synod

A synod is a religious assembly made up of bishops from around the world and the Holy Father (head of the Catholic Church) where they mutually exchange information, experiences, doubts and concerns. All in order to find pastoral solutions that have and can be valid and universally applicable.

The institution of the "synod of bishops" was created by Pope Paul VI on September 15, 1965, after the celebration of the Second Vatican Council years before. With the birth of this episcopal synod, it was sought to preserve the spirit of collegiality derived from the conciliar experience.

The Synod is then, a meeting that represents the Catholic episcopate and aims to help the Pope in his government of the universal Church. Although it is a permanent institution, the assembly takes place only when the Pope considers it necessary and opportune. During this synodal meeting, he expressed his opinion "on arguments of great importance and gravity."

There are three types of synods of bishops:

Ordinary

These are the most common and usually meet every 3 years. The Pope proposes a topic and basic guidelines are made that are sent to the different churches around the world so that they can contribute their suggestions and then form a single document.

These meetings are attended by representatives of the various episcopates of the world, some members of the Roman curia, representatives of religious orders and, occasionally, lay experts and observers and some bishops chosen by the Pope.

Extraordinary

These synods are given as a matter of urgency and to address very relevant issues. The number of participants is smaller compared to the ordinary synodal meeting and since the institution's creation, only three have been held (1969, 1985 and 2014).

Special

These synod meetings take place over a specific geographic area.

Through the approval of the Holy Father to the advice or notes of the bishops in the synodal meeting, the episcopate carries out a collegial activity that resembles, but does not coincide, with an ecumenical council.

-The Orthodox and Protestant synod

In several autocephalous Orthodox churches, the patriarch is elected by a handful of bishops calling themselves "Holy Synod."

Meanwhile, in the Protestant church, this group is in charge of debating and deciding on different ecclesial matters.

-In astronomy

In this branch we speak of a "synod" when the conjunction of two planets occurs on an identical degree of the ecliptic (the line that crosses a planet and marks the path of the sun over it) or the same position circle.

References

1. Synodal. (2019). Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy. Recovered from: dle.rae.es
2. Synod. (2019). Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy. Recovered from: dle.rae.es
3. Synod of Bishops. Recovered from: synod.va
4. What is the Synod of Bishops? Recovered from: youtube.com