Friendship

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."”- C S Lewis

I was going to write a reflection here on the friendships I've developed with the great people I hang out with; I was going to start this reflection with a cool quote from Chesterton or Lewis, for I was sure that they'd have written something amazing on friendship.

I was right. I'm no longer posting a reflection of my own. Rather, here is some copy-pasta from Lewis for you:

Lewis, The Four Loves:

Christ, who said to the disciples "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends "You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing.

 Ibid.:

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. . . . It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.

Third Class awesomeness.

Unexpected presents are the best. Unexpected Catholic presents are even better (don't question how this is possible, they just exist at a level of uber-goodness that is somehow better than the best)

The story: I arrived at a persons house to find him in the kitchen in an explosion of holy cards and medals saying something to the effect of "Did I really order 50 how to say the rosary cards?" I immediately knew what had happened... Catholic on-line shopping had arrived. He then proceeds to start picking up medals and putting them in my hands.

I now have third class relics of St. Joseph, St. Padre Pio, St Therese of Lisieux, St. Jude and St. Faustina.

I know. My friends are amazing.

My response was to go a little crazy and put them all on my scapular:

I may have also made a noise like a 12 year old at a One-Direction concert as soon as I was alone. Although I am unimpressed with the jingling sound I make when I walk now (oh Catholic problems) a solution shall have to be found.

Speaking of relics...

There was recently a first class relic of St Francis Xavier in the diocese I don't belong to but spend most of my time in. I had never seen a First class relic before, and the first time I heard his disembodied hand was coming I honestly thought it sounded a bit manky, but it's not because it looks like this:

Photo from here

  I also didn't know an awful lot about St. Francis Xavier so I read ETWN's write up on him. 

I ended up going to see the relic while I was on a date, which also included a beach rosary (I was ridiculously impressed) which meant that for the rest of the week my conversations ran along the lines of

"What did you do on the weekend?"

"oh, I went on a date"

"Cool, what did you do?"

"We venerated St. Francis' arm then went to the beach and said a rosary :)"  

I didn't take any photos, being the kind of person who takes a camera with them on holidays then leaves it in the hotel the whole time, but I guess some one else was taking photos because the next week I showed up in The Record so I will hack their picture:

God bless you.

Sic non potuistis una hora vigilare mecum?

My friends and I need to sleep more.

Too often do I fall asleep in Adoration. Our crazy, unofficial Horarum leaves me - and I think most of us - lacking in sleep. My goal for the week after exams: do up a more official, personal Horarum that actually allows for sleep that doesn't take place during Adoration.

All Saints 2012

Baby Jesus in Anthony's Arm; Bernadette; Dorothy

Baby Jesus in Anthony's Arm; Joan of Arc

Bernadette & Dorothy with  Jean Vianney's Wig

Anthony with Jesus and Joan

Old Man Rasta Baby Jesus

Old Man Rasta Baby Jesus

Sanguis Christi, inebria me

Emily and I decided to start chronicalling our intoxicating (and sobering) experiences of Christ.
Below is a post from my personal blog - Kelly Thinks (Occasionally) - about the week which started this.

This past week has been so full of blessings.

Although this actually stretches back further than a week, I will only start last Sunday because I want to do something like justice to what my Lord has been doing for me. I will start by offering a few quotes which sum up my feelings, thoughts and experiences; then, I will outline briefly what's been happening; finally, I will offer some other thoughts on these matters, some questions.

***

Firstly, I must quote Emily who yesterday morning summed up the week in this manner:

When you get retreat knees from spending all week with your frineds; without having been on a retreat!

 From Callum, on his blog Catholic Splash:

O Mother most Pure, hold us in your arms, just as you did hold your dearly beloved Son’s fragile and wounded Body.
O pray for me Our Lady of Sorrows, let me share in your sorrows, the sorrows of your Precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (x)

From Bishop Giaquinta, founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement:

Every Apostle, indeed every Christian, must rest on the heart of Christ. The Church, aware of her birth from the heart of Christ, needs to return to His heart in order to be truly faithful. (x) 

 We must correspond with all of our strength, that is, to the maximum, to this love of the Father and of Jesus, accepting and actuating the message received. (Ibid.)

The three dimensions of holiness are personal, fraternal, and societal. As Pro Sanctity, we must be convinced that holiness is the only possible solution to social problems. This, however, does not mean our personal holiness is the only thing we are responsible for, but rather, we are called to be active in the second and third dimensions as well. (Quoted here)

From St John Vianney:

...the more we know of Him, the more we love Him. (Quoted here)

***

Sunday 9th:

Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Lunch; Adoration and Holy Conversation at the Parish of St Bernadette; Theology of the Body and St Thomas More's Parish

Monday 10th:
Holy Hour and Holy Mass in the Holy Spirit Chapel at UNDA; Conversations about the Faith afterward

Tuesday 11th:
Adoration at All Saints' Chapel; Work, concluding in a lesson on music history which started with Gregorian Chant and finished with a discussion on the Holy Trinity with year fours

Wednesday 12th:
University; Holy Hour & Holy Mass at St Therese's Chapel with CYM followed by supper and fellowship; Holy Hour at the Parish of St Bernadette 

Thursday 13th:
University; Work; NDSSJ Sleep Out, including Divine Office, the Holy Rosary and other prayers, and fellowship

Friday 14th:
 Waking at UNDA; Divine Office - Lauds & Matins; Angelus & Holy Mass at St Therese's Chapel with CYM; catching up with my Spiritual Director; Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart Parish

Saturday 15th:
Rosary Walk around Lake Monger; Holy Mass at the Parish of St Bernadette; holy Conversations followed by All Night Eucharistic Adoration at the same

Sunday 16th:
Holy conversation and walking prayer; Young Adults Gathering at the Redemptorist Monestary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Holy Mass in the Church of Sts Peter and Paul

***

What return can I make to the Lord for the good that He has done to me? What shall a man give in return for his life?

How do I live in a manner worthy of these gifts which he has so generously given me?

How do I become a Saint?