Day 29. Courage for the journey

Thursday was a day of much reading for the capitulants, as their task in these days is to give content and form to the General Chapter Document. This means individual readings of the proposed text, then discussion in plenary and after consent voting. The Capitulants make decisions, which are binding on the Society and recommendations, which give direction for the new General Council’s work in the next years.

Today the Capitulants drew encouragement from the Constitutions of the Society: “Through the Eucharist we enter into the mystery of the open side of Jesus. In our daily life, the Eucharist celebrates His death and resurrection, the reality which lies at the heart of the sufferings and hopes of the human family.” (#5) After a short music, they pondered on a passage of the Letter to the Ephesians: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power”. (Eph. 6,10) The prayer ended with blessing: “Lord, we will spend this day weaving new forms of organisation. Be our hand in this weaving. We offer you our material.”