52 The Art of Accompaniment
The practice of patient listening allows the mentor to walk with the one
they accompany through the experiences of their lives, receptively ponder-
ing the mysteries of life with them, seeking to hear the voice of the Spirit.
In listening patiently to the one they accompany, the mentor gives the gift
of their presence, allowing them to be heard in a deep way:
Listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context of
empathy. It allows young people to make their own contribution
to the community, helping it to grasp new sensitivities and to
consider new questions. At the same time it sets the conditions
for a proclamation of the Gospel that can truly touch the heart,
incisively and fruitfully. (Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on
Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, 8)
Like Christ’s example on the Road to Emmaus, listening in the aposto-
late of accompaniment makes possible the conditions for the recognition of
Christ as Savior.
Practically, a mentor fosters a space for patient listening (The Road to
Emmaus and the Art of Accompaniment presented by Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C.,
31 May 2018) within the relationship of accompaniment by establishing fa-
miliarity with the one they accompany, asking questions about the ordinary
and extraordinary experiences of their life, meeting them where they are
by understanding their frame of reference, carrying out their own call with
respect and sensitivity, and honoring the relationship of accompaniment
through appropriate boundaries and levels of confidentiality.
Spiritual Guidance towards Encounter
The apostolate of accompaniment refers to a shared journey between
mentor and the one accompanied; this journey has a definitive destination
and purposeful orientation. Because accompaniment is not aimless wander-
ing, it requires that a mentor be equipped to provide spiritual guidance that
fosters an encounter with Jesus Christ. For those accompanied, accompa-
niment helps them articulate and act on the holy desire for Christ:
In many ways, the young people of today are saying to us: ‘We
wish to see Jesus’ ( John 12:21), thus manifesting the healthy
restlessness that characterizes the heart of every human being: ‘the
restlessness of spiritual seeking, the restlessness of the encounter