YOURS FOR THE TAKING NOW: This life's greatest earthly joy

One of the soul's purest and greatest pleasures It's celebrated by the ancient Greeks, cherished in the Old Testament — but generally misunderstood and sadly undervalued by moderns. Indeed, no matter how many friends you have, and how close you think you are to them, you probably aren't aware of the tremendous spiritual importance offriendship — true friendship — and of how crucial it is to keeping your head and your soul in our neo-pagan society. Hugh Black, the wise Christian author of this book, argues that it's actually spiritually dangerous to let friendships remain on the superficial level that all too many people settle for nowadays — doing no more with their friends than texting or shopping or watching a movie together. Black maintains that when you take friendship for granted this way and don't give it the care it deserves, you turn your back on an important God-given source of spiritual vitality, joy, and comfort. "Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend." Plautus But don't despair! Hugh Black also shows you how to transform superficial friendships into soul-nourishing relationships, bringing them from the shallowness of Facebook to a deep communion of mind and heart — a communion that will become for you (and for them) a means for spiritual growth. "The blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person — having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." Dinah Craik If you're married, you'll learn from Hugh Black new ways to appreciate the gift God has given to you in your spouse. "Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 'Pooh!' he whispered. 'Yes, Piglet?' 'Nothing,' said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. 'I just wanted to be sure of you.'" A. A. Milne

If you already enjoy the blessings of other mature and spiritually oriented friendships, you'll discover in these pages innumerable ways to make them richer, so that they'll approach the full, unbounded love that David had for Jonathan, that St. Francis de Sales had for St. Jane Frances de Chantal, and that Christian friends throughout the ages have enjoyed as they encounter the light of Christ that shines in the souls of other human beings. Best of all, you'll learn how to seek friendship with God. As you discover the joys of this friendship that transcends death and as you enrich your friendships here on earth, you'll come to see how truly Black speaks when he says that "no one would care to live without friends, even if he had all other good things." From Hugo Black you'll come to know: • How friendship leads to a fuller life, and even transcends death — so you can maintain communion with friends who have died • Common ways you can destroy friendships without meaning to — and very simple ways to guard against them • Scripture: its shrewd warnings about the pitfalls of socializing — and its exalted view of friendship • Surprising ways to tell the difference between mere acquaintances and genuine friends • Why the wisest people through the ages have valued friendship so much • Two things you must have, or you'll never make and keep true friends • The secret of friendship. Can you name it? • Spiritual communion: friendship's supreme satisfaction. How to attain it • Cynicism: do you doubt there are loyal and faithful people? How this attitude eats away at your soul • What your friendships show about your relationship with God — and how they can lead you to Him • Unrequited love: how you can turn it into a source of joy — no matter how painful it may be • Discernment in choosing friends: why it's important, and strategies you can use to refine your own • Why you'll never be wise or noble without genuine friendship • And much more to help you grow closer to your friends — and God! The Art of Being a Good Friend How to Bring Out the Best in Your Friends and in Yourself by Hugh Black 160 pgs ppbk $13.95 Sophia Institute Press Box 5284, Manchester, NH 03108 1-800-888-9344 "I felt it shelter to speak to you." Emily Dickinson Hugh Black (1868-1953) spent his life in the service of God's people, gaining fame as a pastor in Scotland and as a lecturer on homiletics in the United States. The common touch and engaging insights of his classic book The Art of Being a Good Friend shine forth for the benefit of Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Black also wrote more than a dozen other books, including works on youth, work, and culture. Please forward this email to others who may be interested. We always welcome contributions to our non-profit apostolate. If you would prefer not to use the PayPal button below, you can add a contribution directly to your shopping cart at our on-line store. Sophia Institute Press is the publishing division of