In the Catholic Church many wish for a gesture of power. A decision that finally changes everything. But that's not how it will be, says Father Bernd Hagenkord SJ, one of the two spiritual companions for the Synodal Way. Instead, a lot of patience is needed.

What will we gain from this? Over two years several hundred Catholics sit together on the synodal way, in theme groups and in assemblies, but what is to be expected is not yet completely clear. The synodal way begins the 1st Sunday of Advent. But because it is not clear what exactly it will be, it is not yet clear.

That is a problem. Because it is not clear, there is little interest. Many opinions, many wise advices, many warnings, but not yet a clear perspective. There is, for example, criticism of the non-binding nature of the synod, a proper canonical synod would be better. Because binding. This would put a source of uncertainty aside.

The synodal way begins

But weaknesses can also be strengths. In the past weeks I was allowed to spend more time on it, I will be one of the two spiritual companions of the process. Of course, it would also be easier for me to have a clear target. But I also see the opportunity, which lies in the rather strenuous because indeterminate procedure.

It has something to do with loosening knots. Bishops and laity have decided together to go a common synodal way, initiated by the bishops after the MHG study. But because it is not clear how exactly the individual problem complexes can and should and may be dealt with, perhaps the open form is better. Because it is possible to speak openly without aiming at the goal.

Loosening knots

Of course I quoted the removal of knots with the reference to the painting shown above. Untying knots needs patience. You can't do that, you shouldn't remind them, because it quickly comes across as overdone. But nevertheless, a good amount of it is necessary. Not to move things. But for the sake of care. Before the first meeting of the spiritual companions in Augsburg I was in the church of St. Peter and meditated on the "Maria Knotenlöserin". Those who want to loosen knots are badly advised with hectic. Precisely because it doesn't help. Stubborn patience, however, continues.

Some may encounter the temptation to reach for the sword to cut the Gordian knot. This story is quoted in the Knot Remover. Unfortunately, we have already heard many requests to speak that sound like power. Strangely enough, even from people who have nothing to do with it at all. But power does not help.

Power does not get the process ahead

To be a Christian means to go out from one's own weakness, not from strength. Finally, this deeply Christian insight was described by Pope Francis in his letter Gaudete et Exsultate. He uses metaphors of struggle, that's right, but it's not the all-decisive struggle of the superheroes, but actually the struggle against the knots. And that's exactly how he interpreted the picture of the knot loosener, in a small audience for collaborators in which he did that I was allowed to be there, that's how he explained the picture.

And then there will be a spiritual process out of it. About patience. Yes, that means uncertain expectations. Perhaps that cannot be avoided at the moment. My confrere Father Stefan Kiechle puts it in a nutshell:

"A spiritual process presupposes that all those who participate enter indifferently; this key word of Ignatian spirituality means at first open-ended, but still deeper: so free from personal preferences, prejudices, preconceptions that one can listen completely to the spirit that perhaps wants to work completely new. Such a process must take place in a shielded way so that it is not manipulated by lobbyists, power fighters and doctrinaire structure keepers - they are not indifferent and do not want to be. There must be no veto rights. "Spiritual process" also means that all participants pay attention with frankness and honesty to the "impulses", i.e. to spiritual thoughts, feelings and moods, and that by distinguishing between comfort and desolation they discover where the spirit leads them."

The process must be shielded

It's got all the odds and all the dangers in it. The synodal path does not begin shielded. It can't do that either, it shouldn't. But this is a problem for the participants, who always have to consider the public impact of their statements wisely. The challenge will be to be able to think and listen with an open mind under these conditions.

This requires patience, which I mean by knot loosening. Then the weakness of unclear expectations is perhaps a help, precisely because it is open. What will we gain from this? That will prove to be the case. We cannot define that beforehand.

Painting of Our Lady removing knots: St. Peters Church, Augsburg