What typically happens during the weekly one on one meetings between the retreatant and the prayer companion?
First of all what happens is confidential. Secondly, each retreatant is unique and as is each prayer companion, so exactly what happens is accordingly different. However, generally the prayer companion is much more of a listener than a speaker, and much more of a companion than a teacher or sharer of wisdom. Each week the retreatant shares with the prayer companion his or her experiences of what happened during the prayer times of that week as well as other life events and experiences relevant to the retreatant’s relationship with God. The prayer companion listens with an accepting, non-judgmental, loving, compassionate presence. The prayer companion listens not only to the retreatant, but also to God’s Spirit moving in the retreatant, in the prayer companion and in their midst. The prayer companion is attentive to graces received by the retreatant, and based upon this will make suggestions about materials to use for prayer for the coming week.
