According to the dictionary the word “companion” has its origins in the Latin word “companio” which if literally translated means “bread-fellow”. It is derived from two words “com” meaning “with” and “panis” meaning “bread”, which we can translate as “sharing bread with”. Breaking bread and sharing food was a way of life for Jesus, many times in the Gospels we see him sit down with people from all groups of his society – the Pharisees, the poor, his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus, the large crowds who came to hear him, and his disciples at the Last Supper when bread and wine became Eucharist. Indeed, after his resurrection it was in moments of blessing, breaking and sharing bread that his disciples recognised him and were able to say “He is risen” – recall the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the apostles at the lake shore bringing in their catch of fish. So being a companion has its roots in the Gospel tradition – it is no wonder then that when Angela sought to name her new group who would commit their lives to God and to the Gospel that she called it a “Company” (The Company of Saint Ursula) – the first members would find companionship with one another – in prayer, in their meetings, at Eucharist and though Angela does not tell us this – perhaps in sharing food together. In her writings Angela names herself as companion to each of us who have chosen to follow her inspiration when she says: “I will be in your midst lending aid to your prayers” what more could we want from a companion in our lives than who is with us, praying for and with us always.
Today while our life has somewhat changed over the centuries and many daughters of Angela live in community we know each other as “companions” sharing our life together in prayer, at meals, at Eucharist and in supporting and encouraging each other in our daily living of the Christian life as Ursulines. We seek to be companions to one other and to all whom we encounter bringing alive the Gospel message to bring the Risen Jesus to all our daily encounters.
Karen OSU