The Saints Interpreting 'I have called you friends' (Jn 15:15) | Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.
Jun 12, 2024
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Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., discusses divine friendship and the saints' interpretation of 'I have called you friends', focusing on St. Thomas's commentary and the contemplative life. The podcast explores how God's love is differentiated for his creatures, the intimate relationship between Jesus and John, and the unity and friendship in Christ within the Church.
The saints exemplify divine friendship, aiding in comprehending Jesus' teachings and fostering friendship with God.
St. Thomas Aquinas views the Beloved Disciple as a model friend of God, highlighting divine friendship's essence and impact in spiritual journeys.
Deep dives
Understanding Divine Friendship with the Saints
Divine friendship, as explored in the podcast, delves into the significance of saints as friends of God. The discourse highlights how the saints exemplify divine friendship, emphasizing their celebration in the Church. Through prayers and examples of martyrs, the sanctity and enduring friendship with God in the saints are underscored. St. Thomas Aquinas' view of charity as divine friendship further elucidates how saints aid in comprehending and living out Jesus' teachings and the essence of friendship with God.
Examining the Beloved Disciple and Divine Friendship
The podcast directs attention to the Beloved Disciple in St. John's Gospel as a model friend of God, as perceived through St. Thomas Aquinas' commentary. The narrative delves into the Beloved Disciple's unique relationship with Jesus, portraying divine friendship. St. Thomas' insights on the Beloved Disciple's contemplative role and his ability to convey Christ's friendship are highlighted, shedding light on divine friendship's essence and impact in one's spiritual journey.
Exploring the Katena Aria and Divine Friendship
The podcast introduces St. Thomas Aquinas' work, the Katena Aria, which underscores the continuous exposition on the four gospels. Through St. Thomas' compilation of passages from the saints, the concept of divine friendship is explored in depth. The significance of the saints, considered as friends of God, is emphasized as instrumental in elucidating Jesus' message in fostering divine friendship and aiding believers in living out this profound bond with God.
Revelation of Divine Love and Friendship with God
The discourse delves into the manifestation of divine love and friendship in one's spiritual journey, emphasizing the saints as beacons of spiritual love and companionship with God. The selfless love demonstrated by martyrs and the profound impact of God's friendship on believers are discussed. The conversation further elaborates on the transformation from servants to friends of God, highlighting the importance of love, obedience, and divine revelation in nurturing a deep and intimate friendship with the Divine.
Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., (Ph.D. Notre Dame) is professor of patristics and ancient languages at the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies where he serves as the director of the doctoral program. He authored Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus (Oxford University Press, 2013) and The Power of Patristic Preaching: The Word in Our Flesh (Catholic University of America, 2023). He co-authored A Living Sacrifice: Guidance for Men Discerning Religious Life (Vianney Vocations, 2019). Editor-in-chief of the academic journal The Thomist, Hofer is editor or co-editor of several volumes including The Oxford Handbook of Deification, The Cambridge Companion to Augustine's Sermons, and Thomas Aquinas and the Greek Fathers. He enjoys speaking with students about their theological and spiritual questions.
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