We’ve had some great conversations about holiness in this month of November, starting with the week before the Solemnity of All Saints, when we had the faith formation session, How Do Saints Become Saints – and Can I Become One Too?
As we continue to pray for all the faithful departed in a special way in this month, it’s also a good opportunity to reflect upon our own lives and desire for holiness.
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church from the Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, discussed a “Universal Call to Holiness”: “...all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; ... They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor.” (LG 40)
Further, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke on this Universal Call to Holiness during his General Audience on April 13, 2011: "The saints expressed in various ways the powerful and transforming presence of the Risen One. They let Jesus so totally overwhelm their life that they could say with St Paul ‘it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’ (Gal 2:20). Following their example, seeking their intercession, entering into communion with them, ‘brings us closer to Christ, so our companionship with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from their fountain and head issue every grace and the life of the People of God itself’ (cf. LG 50).
“At the end of this series of Catecheses, therefore, I would like to offer some thoughts on what holiness is. What does it mean to be holy? Who is called to be holy? We are often led to think that holiness is a goal reserved for a few elect. St Paul, instead, speaks of God’s great plan and says: ‘even as he (God) chose us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him’ (Eph 1:4). And he was speaking about all of us. At the centre of the divine plan is Christ in whom. God shows his Face, in accord with the favour of his will. The Mystery hidden in the centuries is revealed in its fullness in the Word made flesh. And Paul then says: ‘in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell’ (Col 1:19)...
“The Second Vatican Council, in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, speaks with clarity of the universal call to holiness, saying that no one is excluded: ‘The forms and tasks of life are many but holiness is one - that sanctity which is cultivated by all who act under God’s Spirit and… follow Christ, poor, humble and cross-bearing, that they may deserve to be partakers of his glory.’” (LG 41)”
Put simply, the universal call to holiness is a teaching of the church that all people are called to be holy. In Christ’s words: “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)… or the Lord’s words to Abraham, our father in faith, “Walk before me, and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1).
I wish I could be there this weekend to kick off the celebration, but will be praying for you from formation weekend in Springfield, our first weekend of Canon Law, especially with our Lord at Holy Hour! As we enter into our 150th year as a parish, celebrating our strength in faith for 150 years, let us pray for the grace to continue to grow in holiness.