The Most Reverent Charles Jason Gordon wrote a very insightful article in the April 2025 issue of America. I hope you’ll read it. Reminding us of the four marks of the Church, (one, holy, Catholic, apostolic) he discusses the four “marks” of the synodal Church he observed at the Synod on Synodality. They are relating, listening, discerning, and self-emptying. The one that surprised me was self-emptying. Isn’t this personal, individual? How can it characterize the whole People of God? Archbishop Gordon describes how the Church was self-emptying: decentralizing authority to include everyone and forgoing the usual apostolic exhortation typically issued at the end of a synod. The self-emptying lies in linking authority with the mystery of the cross and the kenosis of Christ. Perhaps in future decades our catechism and creed may use such words as these. Whether that ever happens, they are now the synodal Church’s marks. As we begin Holy Week, there are opportunities to keep these four marks in mind and heart. How well will we relate? How well will we listen? How intently will we discern? How well will we empty ourselves? Let the rituals and readings of the holiest week of the year deepen our understanding of who we are meant to be as disciples of Jesus Christ.