What is a Companion?
A companion is an associate who has received the necessary formation to communicate the spirituality of the association and the practice of our rule of life. Companions help discern whether a candidate is ready for consecration. She is not a spiritual director and does not intrude into areas of her probanist’s life that are personal or a matter of conscience. A mutual, spiritual friendship usually develops during formation, yet a probanist is always free to request a change of companion. After consecration, the companion and her “Daughter” maintain and strengthen this spiritual friendship and support each other in the Salesian way of life. Every associate is to have a companion. If the original companion becomes infirm or passes away, a new companion will be assigned.
How One Becomes a Companion
The associate who wishes to become a companion will work with an assigned “auxiliary” as her guide. The auxiliaries are experienced companions who are knowledgeable about the association, deeply grounded in its spirit and capable of transmitting it to others. The auxiliary listens, informs, guides, explains or supports according to needs.
She and the associate in formation will be walking together in a friendly relationship rather than one of teacher to pupil. An experienced companion, or guide, may be assigned for the four stages of continuing formation if an auxiliary is not available, but an individual auxiliary will always be charged with taking an associate through companion formation.
The associate in companion formation will be given material which she will use as meditation or spiritual reading, including questions to be answered in writing and sent to her auxiliary.
Group directresses and companions are responsible to recommend associates having the qualities needed to be future companions. These qualities include availability, willingness to listen, spirit of faith and prayer, sense of responsibility, generally a solid and balanced formation, because they are the ones who initiate others to the spirit of the association and will guarantee that this spirit continues. Companions should also be capable of persevering in difficult encounters, be discrete and know how to discern if persons in formation under their care are sufficiently prepared to commit to the consecration.
For further information, please contact Margaret Margeton, ma********@*****st.net.
What is an Auxiliary?
An auxiliary is an experienced probatrice (companion) in the St. Francis de Sales Association. She is an assistant (auxiliary) to the general probatrice in the formation of future companions, according to the programs proposed by the general council.
