Two of man's basic needs are to love and to share. Both of these

“Two of man’s basic needs are to love and to share. Both of these needs are satisfied in greater or lesser degree by friendship.” Thus spoke Mother Angelica, the wise and spirited nun who devoted her life to faith, compassion, and the ministry of the human heart. In this simple yet profound saying, she unveils a truth that has echoed through every age: that the essence of human fulfillment is found not in possessions or power, but in love and sharing, and that both find their highest expression in friendship. Her words are not merely spiritual instruction; they are a mirror held up to the soul, reflecting what makes life rich and meaningful—the giving of oneself to another.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Mother Angelica’s own life, one marked by hardship, faith, and service. Born into poverty, she knew loneliness and struggle. Yet through these trials, she discovered that what sustains the heart is not wealth or status, but the bonds formed through friendship—bonds that heal, uplift, and nourish the spirit. Her insight was born not in theory, but in lived truth: she built communities where people, regardless of their burdens, could find love, belonging, and a place to share their joys and sorrows. Thus, she recognized what the ancients had long taught—that friendship is both a refuge and a revelation, where the soul learns what it means to give and to receive.

To love is to will the good of another—to see beyond one’s own desires and act for another’s happiness. To share is to break the barriers of isolation, to open one’s heart and possessions freely, knowing that joy multiplies only when it is given away. These two impulses are the twin pillars of human nature. Without love, life becomes cold and hollow; without sharing, it becomes lonely and self-centered. But when joined through friendship, they form the foundation of a life both rich and enduring. For in friendship, love finds its practice, and sharing finds its purpose.

Consider the story of Saint Francis of Assisi and his companions. Francis, once a nobleman’s son, renounced all worldly wealth and chose a life of simplicity and fellowship. He gathered friends not bound by rank or blood, but by love and sharing—men who broke bread together, who walked the earth with nothing but faith, and who gave to others all they had. Their friendship was not born of convenience, but of communion—a unity of spirit so pure that even centuries later, their bond still inspires. In them we see the living embodiment of Mother Angelica’s wisdom: friendship as the vessel through which man fulfills his deepest needs.

True friendship, she reminds us, is not merely companionship or comfort; it is participation in the divine rhythm of giving and receiving. When two souls become friends, they reflect something greater than themselves—a spark of eternal love that binds all creation. For in that connection, each sees the other not as means or possession, but as a gift. And through this mutual offering, both grow richer in heart. Friendship teaches generosity, patience, forgiveness, and sacrifice—the very virtues that sustain the soul. To love and share within friendship is to live as we were meant to: not isolated, but joined in the great fellowship of humanity.

Mother Angelica’s insight also carries a gentle challenge. In a world where people often seek fulfillment through achievement, consumption, or pride, she calls us back to simplicity—to the ancient truth that joy lies in relationship, not in acquisition. Many chase success and find emptiness; but the one who cultivates friendship, who loves without expectation and shares without calculation, discovers a happiness the world cannot take away. For the wealth of the heart is measured not in what we hold, but in whom we hold close.

Let this, then, be the lesson for all who seek meaning: nurture friendship as the sacred ground where love and sharing meet. Give of your time, your listening, your understanding. Speak words that heal. Be present in the joys and sorrows of others. For every act of friendship—no matter how small—is a participation in the divine economy of love. Do not withhold your heart out of fear, for in giving, you receive more deeply than in keeping.

In the end, Mother Angelica’s words are both a truth and a promise: that to love and to share is to live fully, and to find these things in friendship is to touch the eternal. Friendship is not merely one of life’s blessings—it is life’s fulfillment, the place where the human and the divine meet. So cherish your friends. Let your love for them be your offering to the world. For when you love and share freely, you do not merely live—you become a conduit of grace, and your friendship becomes a light that never fades.