What is Holiness?
Holiness is the call to be like God, to share in His divine nature and to live according to His will. In the Catholic faith, holiness is not reserved for a select few but is the universal call for all baptized Christians. Pope Saint John Paul II often reminded us that 'holiness is not a luxury for a few, but a simple duty for you and me.' Growing in holiness means becoming more like Christ, developing the virtues, and allowing God's grace to transform us from within.
Holiness is not about being perfect or never making mistakes. Rather, it's about striving to live in God's love and allowing His grace to work in our lives. It's about becoming the person God created us to be, using our gifts and talents to serve Him and others. The path to holiness is unique for each person, but there are certain practices and attitudes that can help us all grow in holiness.
The Foundation: Prayer and Sacraments
The foundation of growing in holiness is a strong prayer life and regular participation in the sacraments. Prayer is our direct communication with God, and it's essential for developing a relationship with Him. This includes both formal prayers like the Rosary and spontaneous prayer from the heart. Regular prayer helps us to stay connected to God and to be more aware of His presence in our lives.
The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, are the primary means by which God gives us His grace. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life, and regular reception of Holy Communion nourishes our souls and strengthens us to live holy lives. The sacrament of Reconciliation helps us to acknowledge our sins, receive God's forgiveness, and start fresh on our journey to holiness.
Developing Virtues
Growing in holiness involves developing the virtues, which are good habits that help us to act in ways that are pleasing to God. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are given to us by God, but we must cooperate with His grace to develop them. The cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance are natural virtues that we can develop through practice and effort.
Developing virtues takes time and effort. It involves making conscious choices to act in virtuous ways, even when it's difficult. For example, developing the virtue of patience might mean choosing to remain calm when we're frustrated, or developing the virtue of charity might mean going out of our way to help someone in need. Over time, these choices become habits, and we become more virtuous people.
Living the Beatitudes
The Beatitudes, which Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, provide a roadmap for holiness. They describe the attitudes and dispositions that characterize those who are truly blessed and happy. Living the Beatitudes means being poor in spirit (humble), mourning for our sins and the suffering of others, being meek and gentle, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, being pure of heart, being peacemakers, and being willing to suffer for the sake of righteousness.
Living the Beatitudes is not easy, and it often goes against the values of the world. The world tells us to be proud, to seek our own interests, to be aggressive, and to avoid suffering. But the Beatitudes call us to a different way of life, one that is centered on God and others rather than on ourselves. Living the Beatitudes is a sure path to holiness and true happiness.
Service and Charity
Holiness is not just about our relationship with God; it's also about our relationship with others. Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him. Serving others, especially those who are poor, suffering, or marginalized, is an essential part of growing in holiness.
Charity can take many forms: volunteering at a soup kitchen, visiting the sick, helping a neighbor, or simply being kind and patient with those around us. The important thing is that we act out of love for God and love for others, not out of a desire for recognition or reward. True charity is selfless and seeks only the good of the other person.
Embracing Suffering
Suffering is an inevitable part of human life, and how we respond to it can either help or hinder our growth in holiness. The Catholic faith teaches that suffering can have redemptive value when it's united with the sufferings of Christ. This doesn't mean that we should seek out suffering, but it does mean that we can offer our sufferings to God for the good of others and for our own spiritual growth.
When we embrace our sufferings with faith and trust in God, they can become opportunities for growth in holiness. Suffering can teach us patience, compassion, and dependence on God. It can also help us to identify with the sufferings of others and to be more understanding and merciful toward them.
Spiritual Reading and Study
Growing in holiness requires ongoing formation and education in the faith. This includes reading Scripture, studying the teachings of the Church, and reading the works of saints and spiritual writers. Spiritual reading helps us to understand our faith better and to be inspired by the example of holy men and women.
The Bible is the primary source of spiritual reading, and regular reading of Scripture helps us to know God better and to understand His will for our lives. The writings of the saints can also be very helpful, as they show us how ordinary people have lived holy lives and can provide practical guidance for our own spiritual journey.
Community and Fellowship
Holiness is not a solitary pursuit. We need the support and encouragement of other Christians to grow in holiness. This includes participation in the parish community, involvement in small groups or prayer groups, and fellowship with other believers. Being part of a community helps us to stay accountable, to learn from others, and to be encouraged in our faith.
Examination of Conscience
Regular examination of conscience is an important tool for growing in holiness. This involves taking time each day to reflect on our thoughts, words, and actions, and to ask God for forgiveness for our sins. Examination of conscience helps us to be more aware of our weaknesses and to make better choices in the future.
It's helpful to have a structured approach to examination of conscience, perhaps using the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes as a framework. The important thing is to be honest with ourselves and with God, and to be willing to acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness.
Trust in God's Grace
Finally, growing in holiness requires trust in God's grace. We cannot become holy on our own; we need God's help. This means recognizing our dependence on God and being open to receiving His grace. It also means trusting that God is working in our lives, even when we don't see immediate results.
Trust in God's grace also means being patient with ourselves and with the process of growth. Holiness is a lifelong journey, and we will have ups and downs along the way. The important thing is to keep moving forward, trusting that God is with us and that He will help us to become the people He created us to be.
Conclusion: A Lifelong Journey
Growing in holiness is a lifelong journey that requires commitment, effort, and trust in God's grace. It's not about being perfect, but about striving to become more like Christ and to live according to God's will. The path to holiness is unique for each person, but it always involves prayer, the sacraments, developing virtues, serving others, and trusting in God's love and mercy.
As we continue on this journey, let us remember that we are not alone. God is with us every step of the way, and He will give us the grace we need to grow in holiness. Let us also remember that holiness is not just for our own benefit, but for the good of others and for the glory of God. May our growth in holiness be a witness to God's love and a source of blessing for those around us.