Redamatio: Mutual Love in Divine Friendship – May 08 – Homily – Fr Josemaria

In his homily, Fr. Josemaria explains Jesus' words calling us friends, not slaves, and how true friendship with God means loving Him back for His great love in giving His life for us. This "redamatio," or returned love taught by St. Thomas Aquinas, grows through prayer, which St. Teresa of Avila calls time alone with the God who loves us. We must firmly choose to pray and say yes to God's grace, which always comes first and helps us through challenges. Like St. Thérèse says, love is repaid by love alone, and Mary helps us love Jesus fully.

John 15:15 – Jesus calls disciples friends – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?15

1 John 4:19 – God loves us first – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4?19
CCC 2709 – Prayer sharing between friends – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2709.htm
CCC 2002 – Grace needs free cooperation – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2002.htm
CCC 1998 – Grace precedes human response – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1998.htm
Summa Theologiae II-II q.23 – Charity perfects divine friendship – https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3023.htm
St. Teresa Life Ch.8 – Mental prayer intimate friendship – https://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/life.viii.html

00:00 - The Call to Divine Friendship
00:33 - Understanding Redamatio
01:06 - Christ’s Primacy in Love
01:38 - Prayer as Intimate Sharing
02:20 - The Necessity of Determined Determination
02:41 - The Primacy of Grace and Our Response
03:31 - Conclusion and Final Prayer