If you are making significant progress on the transformational journey of Christian spirituality, you have one or more friendships that support that journey. If you do not, you are not. It is that simple.
– David Brenner, Sacred Companions

I am convinced that true friendship cannot exist among those who live without Christ… because worldly friendship which is born of a desire for temporal advantage or possessions is always full of deceit and intrigue; it contains nothing certain, nothing constant, nothing secure….
Behind the spiritual friendship of two people there is always the sweetness of Christ Himself – the perfect friend who mediates the charm and comfort of our human companions.
– Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship (12th century)

I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look at the individual.
I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at a time.
Just one, one, one. You get closer to Christ by coming closer to each other.
As Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me.” So you begin…I begin. I picked up one person… Same thing in your family. Same thing in the church where you go. Just begin…one, one, one.
– Mother Teresa of Calcutta