If you want a short video explanation of Spiritual Companions, please go to the following link:
Screencast video with short explanation of Spiritual Companions
Allow me to express my gratitude for your willingness to explore Spiritual Companions, a program to help you deepen your personal faith, and your relationships with others in the Kingdom of God. This process involves reaching out to another person (of the same sex), and inviting them to a parallel, spiritual walk with you. In addition, if you are in a relationship (marriage, boyfriend-girlfriend), you might also want to consider becoming each other's Spiritual Companion and praying together. Here is how to begin:
First off, to aid in your understanding of why you might want to begin participating in this journey of Spiritual Companions, please read and reflect on the biblical quotations at the bottom of this page. They communicate the value of being involved in a small faith community, that can be a source of encouragement for living more fully in the Kingdom of God. It is important to make an effort to grow in one's ability to trust and communicate with the people that the Lord has placed around us. This helps us to recognize more fully the presence of God in our lives, and also His presence in the lives of others. It will also help you grow in holiness, as you learn to support and encourage each other in your walk of faith.
Second, pray about who you would want to invite to be your Spiritual Companion. Remember that the Lord can use this person as an instrument in your spiritual growth. And you can be the same for them. Spend some time praying and reflecting on who God might be putting in your heart. Call him (if you are a man) or her (if you are a woman) and invite him/her to join you in this spiritual walk. If you are a parisioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and need help finding a Spiritual Companion, send Dcn. Ciso a line (macia@asu.edu or ciso@ologparish.org). Also, please share with Dcn. Ciso any suggestions that you might have to improve the effectiveness of the Spiritual Companions way of interacting. Finally, if you start meeting with someone, using the Spiritual Companions format, and would like Dcn. Ciso to send you additional, supporting material as it becomes available, please let us know.
Third, we recommend that you pray with your Spiritual Companion on a weekly basis (online or face-to-face). See link above Praying with your Spiritual Companion for different devotionals, such as the rosary. This interaction will be very effective in developing a solid friendship with each other, and with Jesus. In Mattew 20:18, the Lord says: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
May God bless you and your Spiritual Companion!
Deacon Ciso Macia
Proverbs 12:15
A fool you think that their way is right, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 11:14
For lack of government a nation is sinking, but is saved if there are many men
of counsel.
Proverbs 19: 20-21
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
There are many projects in the heart of man, but only the Lord's plan is
carried out.
Psalm 1: 1-6
Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of
sinners, nor sits in the meeting of the wicked, but who delights in the law of
the Lord and meditates day and night! He is like a tree planted by the
waters tree, which bears fruit in due time, and whose leaves never wither:
whatever you do will turn out well.
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in himself is a fool, he who does wisely will be saved.
Proverbs 20:18
The projects are secured with the advice and make war with strategy.
Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal
life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you
may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Rom 2:10
Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor
Heb 3:13
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still "today", so that none of you may
grow hardened by the deceit of sin.
1 Cor 1:26
So what is to be done, brothers? When you assemble, one has a psalm, another an
instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything should be
done for building up.
2 Tim 2:2
And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people
who will have the ability to teach others as well.
Gal 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Timothy 3: 16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
perfect and be prepared to always good.
1 Thes 5:11
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.