Holy Conversation

Next to conversation with God by prayer, tho conversation of good men does wonderfully contribute to the building us up in faith and virtue. How do the sense and experience of such as deserve our esteem and affection settle and establish our judgment when they concur with us! How does their knowledge enlighten us, their reason strengthen our faith, and their example inflame us with emulation! A pious friendship renders religion itself more engaging; it sanctifies our very diversions and recreations, and makes them minister to virtue; it minds us when we are forgetful, supports and encourages us when we faint and tire, reproves and corrects us when we give back, and recalls us to the right path when we go out of it. This is, or it should be, the business of conversation, the end and advantage of friendship; we should be often talking together of the tiiings of God, communicating and laying open the state of our souls, our fears, our hopes, our improvements, and defects; we should watch over one another, comfort and support one another; our discourse should always minister new warmth or new strength to our holy faith and love.—Lucas