I've been going to Brompton Oratory in London for eight years now, and I haven't made a single friend, let alone a close one. There's no regular social gathering - such as coffee after Mass - to allow one to make friends. By contrast, I've made friends at the FSSP in Brussels, where numerous social gatherings for parishioners to get to know one another are organized. In a way, Brompton Oratory a microcosm of London: large city, where people are indifferent and don't know one another. Not singling out Brompton Oratory, by the way. I am very privileged to have a Latin Mass so close to me I can walk there. Many Traditional Catholics don't have that. Still, it would be nice if after-works coffee after all masses were organized, as is done in Traditional parishes in Brussels, and is done at St. James Place Spanish Church.
Count me in. I'm Catholic and no close Catholic friends. When you enter the narrow gate and road, it is a journey that you find yourself alone and navigating all the obstacles are challenging. It is a less travelled road and you are lucky to meet someone on the same road and making the same journey.
A very important comment from you Robert on the need for men's prayer groups. Our Knights of Columbus have Saturday morning prayer groups during Advent and Lent. One hour.
I could be one of those fellas I was on medication for anxiety/depression for years but when I came home to Jesus. I haven’t needed them. I’m more happier than I have been but I lost a lot of years to despair, and I am still recovering but I have hope that God will send me friends in the future but I have myself to sort out first with God to make my absence up to Him.
I have two close friends but hardly ever get a chance to meet because we are working all the time and then in the past I wouldn't have had spare money to run to the pub etc. In saying that neither are Christian, so I haven't got that element that Robert was referring to.
I am one of those. I think it is by choice though. I crave silence, I am very comfortable being ‘in my head’ with my thoughts. I love people, but do not have true close friends.
I have no friends and I don't mind. I have Jesus. It's by choice I've no friends, I'm OK in my own company. That took a long time. I can talk to anyone now, I used to be very very shy and extremely self-conscious. It was the Holy Spirit who changed all that but I had to get out of my comfort zone many times over and over again.
@@adamcase9132 I don't know the reasons for other men, personally I find it hard to trust, and it seems to be worse the older I get. Maybe it is the times we live in. It's a sad world we live in.
IMO The statement seperates "close friend" from group / brotherhood. Close friend, is one you think understands your spiritual being and listens one to one at a moments notice. Ask yourself, am I someone's "close friend" ? Curious how the response would change.
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta did say that the biggest problem facing the West is loneliness. She said we may have material wealth but we have lost community/solidarity/friendship.
I see what is there in the Catholic Church AND I DON'T want any of those people !! No thanks ! I live alone and it is so much better than the shallow "friendships" that the Church offers.
I've been going to Brompton Oratory in London for eight years now, and I haven't made a single friend, let alone a close one. There's no regular social gathering - such as coffee after Mass - to allow one to make friends. By contrast, I've made friends at the FSSP in Brussels, where numerous social gatherings for parishioners to get to know one another are organized. In a way, Brompton Oratory a microcosm of London: large city, where people are indifferent and don't know one another.
Not singling out Brompton Oratory, by the way. I am very privileged to have a Latin Mass so close to me I can walk there. Many Traditional Catholics don't have that. Still, it would be nice if after-works coffee after all masses were organized, as is done in Traditional parishes in Brussels, and is done at St. James Place Spanish Church.
Count me in. I'm Catholic and no close Catholic friends. When you enter the narrow gate and road, it is a journey that you find yourself alone and navigating all the obstacles are challenging. It is a less travelled road and you are lucky to meet someone on the same road and making the same journey.
I'm one of those men. My wife has pointed that out me more than once. I am going to try harder to be more friend-worthy.
You should join a club. I used to do board games in a group. Or outdoor stuff like hiking groups.
You would be better off volunteering to help guide the at risk youth and the elderly in your areas.
A very important comment from you Robert on the need for men's prayer groups. Our Knights of Columbus have Saturday morning prayer groups during Advent and Lent. One hour.
Please show love and mind our men 🙏🌹
I could be one of those fellas I was on medication for anxiety/depression for years but when I came home to Jesus. I haven’t needed them. I’m more happier than I have been but I lost a lot of years to despair, and I am still recovering but I have hope that God will send me friends in the future but I have myself to sort out first with God to make my absence up to Him.
I have two close friends but hardly ever get a chance to meet because we are working all the time and then in the past I wouldn't have had spare money to run to the pub etc. In saying that neither are Christian, so I haven't got that element that Robert was referring to.
I am one of those. I think it is by choice though. I crave silence, I am very comfortable being ‘in my head’ with my thoughts. I love people, but do not have true close friends.
I have no friends and I don't mind. I have Jesus. It's by choice I've no friends, I'm OK in my own company. That took a long time.
I can talk to anyone now, I used to be very very shy and extremely self-conscious. It was the Holy Spirit who changed all that but I had to get out of my comfort zone many times over and over again.
Here, we should all be friends here with each other!
I have my Brothers, both non believers but trusted confidants and straight as an arrow.
Well I am one of those men, but don't feel sorry for me, as I prefer it.
I'm not sure if like yourself that a man expects another man to be a close personal friend.
@@adamcase9132 I don't know the reasons for other men, personally I find it hard to trust, and it seems to be worse the older I get. Maybe it is the times we live in. It's a sad world we live in.
Agreed, I have few friends and prefer it that way...
Saint Mother of Teresa said loneliness is a great problem in the west
They’re too busy raising their big families. Is what it is. 🤷🏻♂️
Great point as I think as I think of a "personal close" friend, it's single men.
IMO
The statement seperates "close friend" from group / brotherhood.
Close friend, is one you think understands your spiritual being and listens one to one at a moments notice. Ask yourself, am I someone's "close friend" ? Curious how the response would change.
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta did say that the biggest problem facing the West is loneliness. She said we may have material wealth but we have lost community/solidarity/friendship.
I see what is there in the Catholic Church AND I DON'T want any of those people !! No thanks ! I live alone and it is so much better than the shallow "friendships" that the Church offers.
I’ve found life long friends in the church, brothers in Christ