Introduction: God, the One Who Accompanies 5
Peter’s and John’s “boldness” “amazed” the leaders, elders, and scribes, and
led them to “recogniz[e] them as the companions of Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
These relationships between two disciples embody friendships of mission.
Through these partnerships, the disciples invite others into relationship
with God.
Throughout Sacred Scripture, relationship unfolds as a sacred space of
love, mission, and transformation for God and his people; The Old and
New Testament reveal the Trinitarian God to be a God who accompanies.
This relational model is foreshadowed in the Old Testament through God’s
guidance of his Chosen People, explicitly manifested in the New Testament
in the ministry of Jesus, and continued under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit after the Ascension of Jesus. In the unfolding of his plan for human-
ity, God draws near to humanity in love through accompaniment.
God, the foremost accompanier, continues to inspire the Church and
walk with her even after the Ascension of his Son Jesus. Through the Holy
Spirit, the charism of accompaniment has been present as a source of inspi-
ration in the Church, making an impact upon saints, reformers, and Doc-
tors of the Church. Specific moments in Catholic tradition are especially
prophetic for the contemporary discussions of accompaniment, as they pro-
vide guideposts for structured, intentional relationships as means to grow
in faith. In the early Church, Christians sought the accompaniment and
spiritual wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The Desert Fathers
and Mothers provided guidance to early Christians as they discerned the
questions of their lives and sought to experience peace in their hearts. Oth-
er relationships involved the friendship of a younger monk and a more expe-
rienced monk. In these relationships, the more experienced monk assisted
the younger monk in the spiritual contemplation of life experiences.
In the Celtic tradition, Christians were guided by “soul friends.” Rela-
tionships with soul friends involved vulnerability about one’s spiritual and
life journey, making possible a relationship that led to direction and dis-
cernment. The presence of soul friends in the history of the Church reveals
forerunners of the contemporary practice of spiritual direction. Examples of
accompaniment can also be found throughout the history of religious hous-
es of formation; under the direction of novice masters or more experienced
religious, younger members were accompanied in their journey of further
discernment of the religious life. In the present day, the Church continues