These Saints who were friends discovered that the experience of authentic friendship is a real treasure. It is, as Elredo de Rieval said, “the homeland of those in exile, the wealth of the poor, the medicine of the sick, the grace of the healthy, the strength of the weak, Who is strong.”

A real friend truly wants every good for his friend, every available grace; wants to share with him all his own joys and sorrows, living them with one heart. In short, he wants, with all the strength of his soul, the happiness of the other. This, I am convinced, is what the saints lived. Whether as brothers & sisters, spouses or friends, they knew how to live that limitless charity of Christ, who gave His life for His friends. To have a friendship anchored in Jesus allows us not to be emigrants, nor foreigners; it allows us to become the home of the other. Having a friend is having the need to help the other to live. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry expresses it in a very beautiful way:

“So, my friend, I need you as I need a high place where I can breathe freely. I need to sit beside you, once more […] celebrating a smile as calm as the day itself. As long as I have any fight in me, I will fight a little for you. I need you in order to believe more strongly in this smile. I am compelled to help you live.”

And so today we present 10 inspiring stories of holiness built in the midst of a deep friendship. Enjoy and share about these Saints who were friends in real life!

Saints Who Were Friends

“Love everyone with a strenuous love based on charity, but form friendships only with those who can share virtuous things with you. The greater the virtues you share and exchange with others, the more perfect your friendship will be.” (St. Francis de Sales)

This post was translated from the original Spanish by Winnie Walter.

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