Johnny Dotti – Mario Aldegani
BRACE, WOOD, BLOW
A Synodal Novena
Foreword by Mario Grech

«Synodality is not so much the right to speak, but the duty to listen: to listen to the Spirit; listen to brothers and sisters». Cardinal Mario Grech, in his Preface, reminds us that only listening can lead to a profound, sincere, and not predictable dialogue. We are invited to this form of dialogue by the authors of this book in the form of a “novena”. “Novenas” – they tell us – “in popular tradition have always been a form of simple and profound community prayer, which sustained hope following the steps of the pilgrimage through time. Novenas have been a concrete help to stay existentially concentrated. And prayer is the only possibility we have to advance on this path of the Church, to maintain direction and support us along the way”. How to use this book, so that it does not get lost? “It would be nice if in addition to reading, reflection, and personal prayer, some of his pages were read and prayed in a group, in a community, in a small or large assembly and favored a sharing of thoughts, hope, resolutions in a path of community conversion”.

Johnny Dotti (Bergamo, 1963) is married to Monica and has four children. He is a social entrepreneur, a pedagogue, and lecturer at the Catholic University of Milan. Together with Mario Aldegani he has published for Edizioni San Paolo Più vivi, più umani (2019), Giuseppe siamo noi (2021).

Mario Aldegani (Petosino BG, 1953) has been a priest since 1980 as a religious of the Congregation of San Giuseppe. He is a teacher and educator in the field of ongoing formation. Together with Johnny Dotti he has published for Edizioni San Paolo Più vivi, più umani (2019), Giuseppe siamo noi (2021).

SELLING POINTS
• A text full of proposals for the future of the Church.
• A book aimed at priests and lay people who reflect on the Synod.
• A popular approach, in the form of a novena, with a simple and direct language.
• Preface by Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod.