What is present in every Platonic dialogue, the subject of one of Cicero’s famous letters, and the kind of relationship Christ wished to have with his twelve apostles and with each of us? It is friendship.

From facebook friends to philosophic treaties, 70’s songs to Tennyson poems, we hear about friendship in many different contexts. But what is authentic friendship? How do we foster it? How do we help our children grow in their friendships? And in the end, how do we help them grow in the friendship of all friendships, namely that with Our Lord?

In this week’s podcast, David Maxham discusses such questions as these. Based on a talk he recently gave to our senior class, David considers the lofty ideal of friendship and offers practical advice on how to make this ideal a reality. He first discusses why senior year is a fitting time for our students to think more deeply about their relationships, and how a few good friends can make all the difference during their college years (and beyond). He then dives into the importance of admonition and sincerity in authentic friendships, offering insights on the art of amicable correction and the necessity of being vulnerable for forming friendships. Lastly, David turns his attention to how parents can help their children grown in their friendships. As is often the case, here there can be no substitute for practicing what one preaches and patiently preaching what one practices.

• Show Highlights Why senior year is a fitting moment to discuss friendship
• What is friendship?
• Life is a training ground for friendship and growing in love
• Is this lofty ideal practically possible?
• The demands of friendship
• Why one can only have a few good friends in life
• Admonishing our friends? How to correct with charity and tact
• Truth is the thing: the importance of sincerity in friendship
• How our friendships can help us be better friends of Our Lord
• The importance of patience You have to be a friend (for your children) to have a friend: why modeling good friendships is the best way to help your children grow in their own

Resources

Alasdair MacIntrye: True friendships are rare, but possible

Is Friendship Possible?

“We do not really want a religion that is right where we are right. What we want is a religion that is right where we are wrong. We do not want, as the newspapers say, a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.”

― G. K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study