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

Chapter 7: Accepting and Enjoying Spiritual Friends (Book 3.76–97)

143

should not neglect to make your friend your equal, if you really wish to be a friend. 97. For those who do not maintain equality do not rightly cultivate friendship. Ambrose said, “Defer to a friend as you would to an equal; do not be ashamed to outstrip your friend in doing good. For friendship knows no pride.” 7 And so “faithful friends are life-saving medicine, and the grace of immortality” (Sir 6:16). 8 [3.97 continues in the next chapter.]

7 Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy , 3.129. 8 Aelred paraphrases Sir 6:16 here.