Spiritual Friendship: Learning to Be Friends with God and One Another

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Spiritual Friendship

he prove true to his name and wish to be so gracious that he inadvertently become “vicious.” 3 32. GRATIAN: I can hardly be ungrateful for your concern for me; however, if my desire for listening did not hinder me, I would perhaps return the “favor” to you right now! But instead of that, let us both hear what response he wishes to make to your questions. 33. AELRED: Christ himself has set up a sure goal for friendship by saying, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Behold, how far love must be extended among friends— to the point that they are willing to die for one another! Does this satisfy you? 34. GRATIAN: Since there can be no greater love than this, why shouldn’t this definition satisfy us? 35. WALTER: But what if some of the wicked or Gentiles so love one another in their agreement on crimes and shameful deeds that they are willing to die for one another—are we to agree that they have attained the pinnacle of friendship? 36. AELRED: By no means, since friendship cannot exist among the wicked. Spiritual Friends Are Willing to Die for One Another (2.33−36)

3 Walter is teasing Gratian and making a joke using his name, but the pun does not really transfer into English.