102 The Art of Accompaniment
events to come, accompanied the frightened and confused disciples in the
Upper Room.
In the ministry and example of Mary, the Church beholds a woman
who courageously walks with others and faithfully remains present to them,
especially in the midst of suffering or uncertainty, as Pope Francis speaks of
her:
We are always struck by the strength of the young Mary’s ‘yes’, the
strength in those words, ‘be it done’, that she spoke to the angel.
This was no merely passive or resigned acceptance, or a faint ‘yes’,
as if to say, ‘Well, let’s give it a try and see what happens’. Mary did
not know the words, ‘Let’s see what happens’. She was determined;
she knew what was at stake and she said ‘yes’ without thinking
twice. Hers was the ‘yes’ of someone prepared to be committed,
someone willing to take a risk, ready to stake everything she had,
with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was
the bearer of a promise. (Christus Vivit, 44)
Mary is truly a mentor of accompaniment; she is faithful, courageous,
willing to engage those who are in her midst, seeks the will of God at
all times, listens actively, loves deeply, acknowledges the limits of her wis-
dom and guidance, and knows the joys and sorrows of the spiritual journey.
Because of her accompaniment, many in the Gospels are emboldened by
Mary, such as Christ at the Wedding Feast of Cana or the disciples in the
Upper Room. Mary’s witness to a life lived out of love for God inspires and
calls others to take up their own mission to bring about the Kingdom of
God.
In Mary, the Church has a model and intercessor for the apostolate
of accompaniment. Mary is a missionary disciple who is willing to walk
bravely with others who deal with uncertainty and complexity, a mentor
who offers a reassuring presence, and above all else, a witness who has en-
countered God in a true and deep way. Mary’s model of accompaniment
breathes renewal, hope, and creativity into the Church, an example of hope
for all mentors:
She was the woman of strength who uttered her ‘yes’, who sup-
ports and accompanies, protects and embraces. She is the great
guardian of hope… From her, we learn how to say ‘yes’ to the stub-