Sisters in Christ: The Sacred Bond of Catholic Friendship
By Liah Ostrom
A picture after Divine Mercy Sunday mass of Hannah (on the left) and me (on the right).
Catholic womanhood is not meant to be lived in isolation. Just as Our Lady sought companionship with Elizabeth, we too are called to find, nurture, and treasure friendships that lift us up toward Heaven. True Catholic friendship among women is not only beautiful, it is biblical, essential, and holy.
A Friendship Rooted in Heaven
When the Blessed Virgin Mary discovered she was with child, she “arose and went with haste” to the hill country to be with Elizabeth (Luke 1:39). Their meeting wasn’t just a joyful reunion, it was a sacred sharing of grace. In the Visitation, we see two women rejoicing in God’s plan, encouraging each other through miraculous pregnancies and the challenges they faced. This wasn’t small talk, it was sacred talk. It was the beginning of a friendship rooted in faith and built on God’s promises.
In the same way, Catholic friendships are meant to carry spiritual weight. They're more than shared hobbies or late-night conversations, they're spaces where we grow in virtue, encourage one another to holiness, and share our joys, crosses, and hopes.
Love That Led Me Home
During my conversion, when everything felt uncertain and the path ahead was filled with fear and resistance, God sent me the gift of holy friendship through Emma and Hannah. Emma prayed for me constantly, lifting up my name to Heaven when I didn’t have the words or the strength to pray for myself. Hannah walked with me patiently, answering my questions, sharing the truth with love, and mentoring me through the confusing and beautiful process of entering the Church.
Their love wasn’t loud or forced, it was steady, quiet, and Christ-like. In a time that felt overwhelming, their presence brought me peace, comfort, and the courage to keep saying yes to God. Their friendship reminded me that I wasn’t alone, God was loving me through them.
Saintly Companions Show Us the Way
Throughout Church history, we see the power of holy friendship: St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, St. Clare and St. Francis, and even friendships between spiritual mothers and daughters, like St. Zelie Martin and her daughters. These saints supported each other through spiritual trials, reformations, persecutions, and personal suffering. Their friendships bore eternal fruit.
For Catholic women today, finding those kinds of soul-deep friendships can feel rare, but they are worth seeking out and worth protecting. Look for the friend who reminds you to pray, who walks with you to Adoration, who challenges you to speak truth when it’s hard, and who rejoices with you when grace abounds.
The Power of Shared Faith
A good Catholic friend is someone you can text with a prayer request and know she’ll actually pray. It’s someone who will gently correct you when you need it, and remind you that your worth comes from God, not the world. It’s someone who makes spiritual motherhood come alive through empathy, sacrifice, and presence.
Scripture speaks often of the blessing of good friendship:
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17
“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.” — Sirach 6:14
We need friendships that sharpen us into stronger women of virtue. We need sturdy shelters when life becomes a storm. And we need to be that kind of friend to others.
How to Cultivate Catholic Sisterhood
Be the first to reach out. Don’t wait for someone else to initiate. Invite a friend to Mass, a rosary walk, or a coffee date with intentional conversation.
Be vulnerable. Holy friendships grow when we’re honest about struggles, not just successes.
Be prayerful. Pray for your friends, and with them. Spiritual intimacy is built through shared prayer.
Be loyal. Defend your sisters in Christ when they’re not in the room. Love them with patience. Forgive generously.
A Reflection to Carry
Mary and Elizabeth’s friendship gave birth to the forerunner and the Savior. Who knows what graces your holy friendships could help bring to the world?
Let us be the kind of women who help each other walk the narrow way, not in competition, but in communion. In the quiet caves of our own lives, may we meet each other in the grotto, where grace flows, truth is spoken, and hearts are lifted toward Heaven.