Cardinal Ouellet offers an ecclesiological key for a better understanding and practice of a Synodal Church. He asks what does the future hold for a synodal Church? Missionary conversion or confusion? Spirits are stirred by the many questions raised by the vast consultation of the people of God gathered under the uncomfortable tent of synodality. 

In our desire for reforms, the Cardinal says that we are losing sight of the one perfect model, the archetype, Mary, and that we should keep our gaze constantly fixed on Our Lady in order to know ourselves what the Church, the ecclesial spirit, ecclesial behaviour really are. 

He states that the main weakness in the synodal process has been the lack of theological reflection, which risks leaving the Church at the level of charitable NGOs. This book proposes to fill this gap in the hope that the synodal operation will go further than the sociology of changing structures and the distribution of power. 

Hence the elements proposed by Ouellet for a more Trinitarian, pneumatological, Marian and nuptial ecclesiology, to prevent the Church from being divided into ideological struggles that extinguish the flame of mission. The boldness of this book is to highlight the charismatic dimension of the Church, too long neglected for lack of pneumatology. Its revolutionary originality lies in placing the charism on the same footing as the Word and the Sacrament.

“The signal contribution of this trenchant text is to move the conversation surrounding synodality away from much-contested practical questions to deeper, more foundational theological matters.  Central to Cardinal Ouellet’s argument is that synodality, at its best, is an outgrowth of the theology of the Holy Spirit developed by the Fathers of the Vatican II.  Anyone interested in the authentic renewal of the Church will benefit from reading this book.”
—The Most Reverend Robert Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota

“The author of this superb text speaks from decades of distinguished pastoral and scholarly service to the Church; what results in these pages is an absorbing, articulate call for the recovery of her charismatic dimension and evangelical revival.”
—Francis X. Maier, Senior Fellow, Catholic Studies, Ethics and Public Policy Center; Author, True Confessions: Voices of Faith from a Life in the Church

"In all the questions around synodality this book is a welcome contribution to the topic. Important main principles underscore the creative aspects of a synodal ecclesiology which is not disconnected from Tradition. The author grounds synodal ecclesiology in the rediscovery of the Church’s identity in the heart of the Trinity. The Trinitarian and Christocentric vision of Vatican II renews our own awareness of her mystery and mission. This retrieval of Vatican II’s ecclesiology of communion underscores LG 4, the role of the Holy Spirit and charisms and keeps us faithful to the truth of the Gospel for our times."
—Most Reverend Samuel J Aquila, Archbishop of Denver

"Can the Holy Spirit save synodality? In 2016, Cardinal Marc Ouellet lent his theological expertise and credibility to Pope Francis, offering an argument for the orthodoxy of Amoris Laetitia. Now, the estimable Ouellet attempts the same for the highly contested synodal process on synodality. He argues that “pneumatology” – theological reflection on the Holy Spirit – is needed to understand synodality as a fruit of the charismatic nature of the Church. Now in retirement, Cardinal Ouellet is still putting ballast in the barque of Peter."
—Fr. Raymond de Souza, National Catholic Register