The intimate relationship between All Souls Day and All Saints Day, with which the month of November begins, is eloquent proof that an afterlife does exist. Leafing through various biblical passages, it seems quite clear that holiness is the essential condition thanks to which living eternally with God becomes a tangible reality.
The letter to the Ephesians tells us “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call” (Eph 4:4). We were created to live with God forever. The Church has always taught this indispensable truth. In Casti Connubi, Pope Pius XI said that “all men of every condition, in whatever honourable walk of life they may be, can and ought to imitate that most perfect example of holiness placed before man by God, namely Christ Our Lord, and by God’s grace to arrive at the summit of perfection, as is proved by the example set us of many saints” (§ 23). Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, powerfully asserted that “all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord, each in his own way, to that perfect holiness whereby the Father Himself is perfect” (§ 11).
Holiness is about letting one’s heart be moulded by God’s saving intervention. St Therese of the Infant Jesus observed: “holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness, and confident – in the most audacious way – in His Fatherly goodness”. Holiness requires constant purification from one’s sins. St Peter Eymard wrote: “The state of grace is nothing other than purity, and it gives heaven to those who clothe themselves in it. Holiness, therefore, is simply the state of grace purified, illuminated, beautified by the most perfect purity, exempt not only from mortal sin but also from the smallest faults; purity will make saints of you! Everything lies in this!”
We very well know our transgressions. With the Psalmist of Psalm 51, each one of us can honestly say to the Lord: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me… Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (Ps 51: 2-3. 9). It is not easy to acknowledge that we are sinners. It takes courage to admit it. But accepting our responsibility for impairing our relationship with God and one another is a bold step in the right direction. It is a vital means through which we can progress in our journey of continual purification.
Holiness means attaining St Paul’s vision: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2: 20). Yet in order to arrive at such a lofty state of perfection we need to let Jesus sit on the throne of our hearts to control our lives entirely. In Mark’s gospel we find Jesus’ answer of how we can let him guide our lives from our innermost being. Replying to the scribe’s question Jesus said: “The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength… You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31).
The secret of holiness lies in letting Christ’s mentality and behaviour increase in us in order that our egoistic tendencies are swept away into the mighty power of his saving blood. In his letter to the Philippians, St Paul counsels us: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:5-7).
With ardent faith recite the following prayer daily and may you see its life-giving consequences! “Lord, may you increase and I decrease. Amen.”
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
SAN GWANN