As you have probably seen or heard in the news, this week in Rome a group of bishops from all over the world has been called together by Pope Francis. They are meeting in an Extraordinary Synod of

Bishops to discuss how to strengthen the family.

First, a little history. From 1962 to 1965, all of the bishops of the world were called together for the Second Vatican Council. Because all the bishops could participate in it, it was an ecumenical council, the 21st in history.

Like the gatherings of the Apostles that we read about in the Acts of the Apostles, our Catholic faith holds that ecumenical councils are guided by the Holy Spirit to assist the Church in being faithful to Christ.

At the end of the Second Vatican Council, a number of bishops proposed that it would be helpful to gather, periodically, some of the bishops of the world to continue to advise the Holy Father and to reflect on common problems and possible solutions. Pope Paul VI agreed and synods of bishops have regularly been convened ever since.

An ordinary synod is one that is regularly scheduled and meets every third year. When the Holy Father decides there is urgent business that can’t wait for the next ordinary synod of bishops, he convenes an extraordinary synod, or one outside of the regular schedule.

The meeting this week (Oct. 5-19) is an extraordinary synod. Pope Francis felt that the pressures and struggles of the family in our day, and the need to ensure the Church’s support for the family, required an immediate gathering of representative bishops from various countries.

Next year, there is a regularly scheduled ordinary synod of bishops. Pope Francis has indicated that he intends to have that meeting pick up on the work of the meeting being held this week and next. So the two synods being held this year and next are both parts of a whole in the mind and intention of the Holy Father.

It’s no secret that the institution of the family is greatly challenged in our day and our society. The numbers of young people marrying and having children is decreasing to an alarming level.

Cohabitation and casual encounters that are spiritually damaging to those involved make the commitment and sacrifice of marriage so much more difficult. And of course, so many marriages now end in divorce. Efforts to redefine marriage show a confusion about its basic and essential nature.

Perhaps the most publicized issue related to the synod is a proposal to change the long standing teaching of the Church that those who are divorced and civilly remarried may not receive holy Communion until they separate from their partner or their marital status is resolved by the Church’s judgment.

While that proposal is being explained by some as a call for the Church to be merciful, mercy is not really the issue. Rather, our teaching on the reception of holy Communion is understood to be an act of fidelity to Jesus who said quite clearly that one who divorces his or her spouse and marries another commits adultery.

Whatever comes forth from the synods of this week and next year, as followers of Christ we need to be committed to the beauty of the family, based in marriage and open to new life.

It is frequently observed that when marriage and family are well explained and accompanied by the beauty of witness by those who joyfully live their family lives, people, especially young people, are attracted. Family life brings societal stability, personal fulfillment and the peace of conscience that comes from living out God’s plan that is written into our hearts.

We need to pray intensely that the Holy Spirit guide the minds, hearts and faith of those participating in the synod this week and next. But we need also to examine our own witness to marriage and family.

More than just talk or even catechesis, there is a crucial need for couples and families to witness to the goodness of committing for a lifetime to the faithful relationship between a man, a woman and children that makes up a family.

The synod is not just a moment for the Church to talk the talk. It is also a reminder for us to walk the walk and show why support for the family is part of God’s plan, good for society and good for each of us.