I tell my students when preparing a paper or a lecture, in general, always to think in terms of threes.

Three is obviously a special number. Well, it's kind of divine.

But I say if you can't keep it to three, then I like to bump up to five.

I'm not sure why it's that the odd number there maybe has something to do with it.

But then an audience always is a little bit concerned if you hear that there's five points,

I know how the drill goes. When the person says, okay, and now that was my first point,

everybody looks at the watch, does some math about how long the whole thing's going to be,

and you get a little worried. So I am extremely aware of time and there are five parts here,

but I think after I get through the first, you'll kind of say, ooh, okay, I got, this is going to keep moving along here.

So here's what the five parts are.

The importance of friendship, the kinds of friendship, how to start a friendship, how to grow a friendship,

and a thought or two on friendship with God.

Again, the importance of friendship, the kinds of friendship, how to start a friendship,

how to grow a friendship, a thought or two on friendship with God. St. Thomas is going to be our

guide here on the handout that I've given you. There's actually a few more quotations from

the great St. Allerid. So you're really getting a little bit of a two-fer here, but don't worry in turning to St. Alarid. It's in no way turning away from St. Thomas.

My entire worldview, I am grateful to say, has been formed as being a disciple, as being a student of St. Thomas, specifically in the area of friendships or anything that I'm

presenting to you here is very much in that mold. St. Albert, who actually wrote before St. Thomas,

is very much of a mind with him. And he at times has just that practical suggestion that you're

really going to appreciate. And I've got the reference to the book in their spiritual friendship that you might want to check out.

The importance of friendship.

We are made for friendship.

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