The former Master of the Dominicans gave the following sermon at the Requiem Mass for his friend, David Sanders, at Blackfriars in Oxford on 30 March

The raising of Lazarus is a story about a family, about friendship and about a brother. So it says something about what it means for us to remember and pray for David. His family is taking part online, and we think of them. We have received innumerable messages from his friends, and welcome them too. And we Dominicans are of course his brothers, and also his friends.

Friendship is fundamental to our Dominican spirituality. Dominic was a man of many friendships, especially with women. An easy friendship between men and women was from the beginning part of our preaching.

Blackfriars was refounded almost a hundred years ago by Bede Jarrett, and it was said that he had a natural capacity for friendship. Bede wrote: “Our lives are made and marred by our friendships. In the worlds of nature and grace, love is more powerful than reason, heart than head, friendship than law.” He said that fidelity in friendship is “the most beautiful thing on Earth”.