STORY OF A SAINT: SS. BENEDICT & SCHOLASTICA

11th July is the feast of St. Benedict. In the 6th Century he wrote a list of rules for monks that would become the foundation for nearly all religious communities ever since. But another thing about St. Benedict is that he had a great friendship with St. Scholastica (who might also have been his twin sister). Tradition tells us that they would talk for hours on end about heaven. After one such much meeting. St Scholastica died and St. Benedict had a vision of her soul being carried to heaven in the form of a dove.

This is a good reminded of what authentic friendship is about: to help our friends become saints and go to heaven!

That’s not to say we cannot be friends with people who aren’t Christian. But it means our friendships should be aiming towards things that are good. And that we need to think carefully about the friendships that lead us astray.

What do you think are the qualities of an authentic friend? They advise you to do the right thing? They pray for you? They encourage you when things are tough?

Which one of these would you value the most?

Now, here's the interesting part! Pick this quality and think how you can be be that friend to someone else today!