The One Accompanied 79
in which the couple develops a plan for spiritual accompaniment between
themselves. Ongoing formation after the sacrament also allows couples to
strengthen their accompaniment of one another. The vows of the marriage
rite are the mystagogical substance for this discussion.
Mentor Couples
Another way of incorporating spiritual accompaniment into marriage
preparation is by pairing the engaged couple with an experienced mentor
couple:
The Synod Fathers observed that the initial years of marriage are
a vital and sensitive period during which couples become more
aware of the challenges and meaning of married life. Consequently,
pastoral accompaniment needs to go beyond the actual celebration
of the sacrament.... In this regard, experienced couples have an im-
portant role to play. The parish is a place where such experienced
couples can help younger couples, with the eventual cooperation of
associations, ecclesial movements and new communities. (Amoris
Laetitia, 223)
The mentor couple is a faithful Catholic couple who faithfully lives
out the vocation of marriage and feels called to encourage other couples in
their pursuit of a holy and virtuous marriage by accompanying them cou-
ple-to-couple or in a small group. This mentor couple relationship resembles
spiritual fatherhood and motherhood, as the more experienced couple helps
the engaged couple transition into married life.
Concretely, the accompanying couple might meet regularly with the
engaged couple leading up to their wedding, and periodically afterwards.
The goals of accompaniment by a mentor couple are to create lifelong
friendships between the couples, and integrate newly married couples into
the parish community where they can continue to encounter God and be
guided by their mentor couple. The tasks of the mentor couple may include,
but are not limited to:
1. Being hospitable and inviting the engaged couple into their
home, where their vocation of marriage is lived out daily.
2. Helping the engaged couple learn how to pray together and