We started the month of November by celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints. Some erroneously believe that to be saints is something that is reserved for some but not for others. They err absolutely! Holiness is for everyone!
The Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, stresses on the universal call to holiness.
"Thus it is evident to everyone, that 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; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. 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 neighbour. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history" (§ 40).
Lumen Gentium explains that "the classes and duties of life are many, but holiness is one - that sanctity which is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God, and who obey the voice of the Father and worship God the Father in spirit and in truth. These people follow the poor Christ, the humble and cross-bearing Christ in order to be worthy of being sharers in His glory. Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity" (§ 41).
Thus, in the case of bishops, to be holy means, as Pope Francis said earlier this month, "to have always before [their ] eyes the example of Jesus who, as Good Shepherd, came not to be served but to serve (cf. Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45) and to give His life for his sheep (cf. Jn. 10:11). Holy Bishops - and there are so many in the history of the Church - show us that this ministry is not sought, it is not requested, it cannot be bought but it is received in obedience, not to elevate oneself, but to lower oneself, as Jesus 'humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross'" (Phil. 2:8).
Priestly holiness means having a profound relationship with Jesus Christ, the One Eternal Priest. Last January, the Holy Father said: "We [priests] are all sinners. But if we go to Jesus Christ, if we seek the Lord in prayer -prayer of intercession, prayer of adoration - we are good priests, even though we are sinners... The priest who adores Jesus Christ, the priest who talks with Jesus Christ, the priest who seeks Jesus Christ and who is allowed to seek Jesus Christ: this is the centre of our life. If that is not there, we lose everything. And what will we give to the people?"
Regarding consecrated persons' holiness, as Pope Francis beautifully explained this month, means being "a sign of contradiction, according to the Gospel, as Jesus was". For Pope Francis, the resources that can help consecrated persons to fully and joyfully live their consecration to God are "prayer and Adoration", "fraternal life", "the Eucharist" and "the Rosary".
And, finally, what does it mean for lay people to be holy? In October of last year, Pope Francis exhorted the faithful not to be afraid of holiness, of letting oneself be loved by God. "Let us not lose the hope of holiness, let us follow this path. Do we want to be saints? The Lord awaits us, with open arms; he waits to accompany us on the path to sanctity. Let us live in the joy of our faith, let us allow ourselves to be loved by the Lord."
Do you want to allow God to really love you? Is holiness not that inner peace you are truly craving for?
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
Paola