Third Pillar
Accompaniment
“Behold the Lamb of God!”
John 2:36
Friends of the Bridegroom walk with women, pointing out the voice of the Bridegroom. In Jesus’ time, the Wedding Feast was preceded by a Betrothal Ceremony, after which came a period of preparation. While the Bridegroom went to prepare the Wedding Chamber in the house of his Father, he would ask a trusted Friend, the shoshben, to help prepare the details of the Wedding Ceremony. During the time of preparation, the Friend of the Bridegroom would vigilantly protect the Bride from false suitors and the distractions of the world. In his solicitude, he would also help stir her love for the Bridegroom and keep her attention fixed on the Wedding Feast to come.
We know that the Lord has not stopped calling women to himself in consecrated life. We joyfully anticipate the abundance of women that will begin to come forward as we labor to foster awareness of and encounter with women religious in the life of the Church.
Knowing that the modern young adult woman needs significant support to discern and then prepare to enter religious life, Friends of the Bridegroom help her to feel supported and cared for as she seeks to follow the Bridegroom. This means doing what you can, in your area to help connect and form a network of people to support and accompany young women in discernment.
A Network of Mentors
Knowing that young women will need someone with her on the journey, it is helpful to have a sense of where you can direct her. We recommend creating a list of people you trust in your area to serve as spiritual directors and mentors to these women. There is no “one size fits all” for this pillar. Every woman has unique needs, and every community has unique resources. Some women likely need basic formation in cultivating a life of prayer. They would be well-served by a mentor willing to accompany her through this stage of discipleship. Others may have an established life of prayer and need support in a later stage of discernment. They would likely be well-served by a spiritual director who has the formation necessary to guide her through the process. It is helpful to have a sense of men and women that fall somewhere along that spectrum, from mentors in discipleship to trained spiritual directors.
Additional Resources
Engaging a Healing Journey
In order to make a free gift of our life to another, we must first grow in self-knowledge and attend to areas of unhealed wounds. As a woman moves toward religious life, she is likely to encounter wounded places in her story that deserve kindness and care.
The John Paul II Healing Center has many rich resources for this journey, along with many others they have compiled here.
Mary and Elizabeth
Mary and Elizabeth is a Memphis-based apostolate serving the needs of women throughout the country, especially through 1:1 accompaniment.
Formation for Priests
Priests who are Friends of the Bridegroom strive to live in intimate friendship with the Divine Bridegroom and to help Him awaken the Heart of the Bride to her beauty and final calling. This often unfolds through spiritual direction and vocational accompaniment.
To assist you in your ministry as a Friend of the Bridegroom, we have resources to support you. This includes original video teachings from women religious specifically tailored for you.
Milwaukee Contact
If you are in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and desire accompaniment in your own discernment, please contact us at vocations@renewreligious.org. We will be in touch!
You can also find more information about any upcoming events in the are here.