64 The Art of Accompaniment
Through this living witness, the one accompanied learns to navigate the
Christian journey through “conversion to Jesus Christ, full adherence to his
person and the decision to walk in his footsteps” (General Catechetical Direc-
tory, #74). The one accompanied navigates this journey by following another
who simultaneously goes before them and walks alongside them. They act
as a disciple by seeking to imitate Christ, honoring the role and experience
of their mentor, striving to be “teachable” and “coachable”, and becoming
empowered to offer their own witness to the Christian life lived joyfully.
Contemplative
The material of the apostolate of accompaniment is lived experience; in
the accompanying relationship, the one accompanied is called to contem-
plate their lived experiences in the light of the Gospel. Lived experience is
the marriage of faith and life, the touchpoint of human and divine:
Because the eternal Word assumed human nature, human experi-
ence is the locus for the manifestation and realization of salvation
in him. (National Directory for Catechesis, #29A)
The prayerful consideration and interpretation of experience through the
lens of faith allows the one accompanied to recognize the movements of the
Holy Spirit in situations and events, discern the sound of the voice of the
Lord in relationships and people, and attune their vision to the life to which
Christ calls them. To be a contemplative in the relationship of accompa-
niment, the one accompanied reflects on their ordinary and extraordinary
experiences with their mentor; through this prayerful reflection together,
the one accompanied and the mentor look with the eyes of faith to affirm
the Lord’s presence in all things:
By hearsay I had heard of you, but now my eye has seen you.
( Job 42:5)