This morning, the Vatican released the Instrumentum Laboris (working document) for the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (to be held October 5-19). The Synod will focus on “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization”.
As usual, the Vatican posted the entire text on their website, and authorized an official PDF, but thanks to the kind permission of the USCCB I’ve also created Kindle and Nook versions so you can read the 85-page document more easily on your e-reader or mobile device. See below for download links.
The Instrumentum Laboris consists of three parts. The first part focuses on the biblical and magisterial understanding of marriage, and features a heavy focus on the “natural law.” It also reflects on the role of the family today, the “fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another.”
The second part concerns many pressing challenges to marriage and the family. These include cohabitation, remarried divorcees, teen motherhood, mixed-religion marriages, and same-sex unions.
The final part deals with openness to life and parental responsibility. It explores how to transmit the faith to younger generations and how to form children in difficult or irregular family situations.
This document will set the tone for October’s anticipated Synod on the Family, and it deals with some of the most important issues today. So click below and read it in your favorite format!
(For the PDF, Kindle, and Nook files, right-click on the graphic below and choose “Save File As…” or “Save Link As..” in order to download the file to your computer.)
Read the Instrumentum Laboris on PDF
- Right-click the graphic below and choose “Save-As” or “Save Link As” to save the document on your computer.
- Double-click the PDF document and begin reading!
Read the Instrumentum Laboris on Kindle
- Right-click the graphic below and choose “Save-As” or “Save Link As” to save the document on your computer.
- Visit the Manage your Devices page at Manage Your Kindle.
- Find the Send-to-Kindle email address associated with your device (e.g. name@kindle.com).
- Send an email to that address and attach the “Instrumentum-Laboris-Synod-on-the-Family1.mobi” file you downloaded in Step 1. It’s not necessary to include a subject in the email.
Read the Instrumentum Laboris on Nook
- Right-click the graphic below and choose “Save-As” or “Save Link As” to save the document on your computer.
- Plug your Nook into your computer.
- Go to My Computer, right-click on the Nook icon, then choose “Explore.”
- Locate your eBook folder and then open the “My Documents” folder within it.
- Leaving this window open, go find the “Instrumentum-Laboris-Synod-on-the-Family1.epub” file you downloaded in Step 1 and drag it into this “My Documents” folder.
- Disconnect your Nook from your computer.
- Turn on your Nook and choose “Search for New Content”. The document should show up in the My Documents folder on your Nook.
Read the Instrumentum Laboris on iPad/Iphone
There are several ways to add the Instrumentum Laboris to your Apple device. One way is to download the book below and add it via iTunes. Or download the Kindle version above, mail it to your Kindle email address, and then view it through the free Kindle app.
(Image credit: Rowan Williams)
