Friendships Begun by a Sworn Pact Do Not Last

This too has often been proved by much experience: those who entered the bonds of friendship by way of a sworn pact cannot possibly keep their harmony unbroken. Either they tried to keep it, not out of a desire for perfection or under the rule of apostolic love, but out of earthly love, because of their needs and the bonds of their agreement; or else that most cunning enemy of ours hurries them on all the faster to break the chains of their friendship, so that he may make them breakers of their oath. So this judgment of the most prudent men stands most certainly established: true harmony and undivided union can exist only among those whose life is pure, and who are men of the same goodness and purpose. [a]

So much the blessed Joseph said in his spiritual talk on friendship, and he fired us with a more ardent desire to keep the love of our fellowship a lasting one.