The Call to Holiness

The world has decided that there is no certain truth. What must be its attitude then toward any institution which puts itself forward as the organ of the truth? One of hostility necessarily. Is there such an institution? There is the Church. The Church and the nineteenth century therefore are enemies. The world of today does not admit any truth; it does not want any exponent of the truth. The world and all that are of the world agree to say there is no one truth and there is the Church which dares to declare that there is but one truth, and that is the doctrine she, alone, imparts. Therefore the world must hate the Church. For let the world put on what garb of impartiality it will, it knows that it and the Church are foes; and he who is the prince of this world above all knows that she is his foe, and destined to crush his head...

The Church can save society. She can do it. She has done so already. When the wild hordes of the North came down like the sweeping hurricane in succession and brought the enervated nations of the South to such low misery that order and law seemed to have disappeared from the earth, and chaos come back again, the Church taught virtue to the populations purified by misfortune, and, after converting their oppressors to the true faith, gradually established among them a social system which, with its defects, Kings, aristocracy, and people, were bound together, not by a bond of sentimental humanity, or of vague fraternity, or false equality, but by that Christian charity which teaches us to respect the rights of all, because all are brothers regenerated in the blood of the same Redeemer, called to the same light of truth, and united in the hope of one eternal happiness.

Reflections on Christian Holiness light of the experience of Mother Teresa Calcutta

Excerpts from PAPAL HOUSEHOLD PREACHER’S FOR ADVENT 2003
Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa

For this is the wiIl of God, your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3): There are in the world three possible orders or levels of greatness: the order of bodies, in which wealthy people, extraordinarily beautiful people or those of an imposing physical presence stand out; the order of intelligence and genius, in which artists, writers and scientists are distinguished; and the order of holiness in which, after Christ, the Virgin and the saints are outstanding (Pensees 793Br.).

One drop of holiness, (musician Gounod said), is worth more than an ocean of genius. The glory of holiness does not end with time, but lasts eternally. Today the Church needs saints. This calls for our combating our attachment to comforts that lead us to choose a comfortable and insignificant mediocrity.

Each one of us has the possibility to be a saint, and the way to holiness is prayer. Holiness is, for each of us, a simple duty.

OUR SPIRITUAL FORMATION
is modeled to live a life of holiness. Without holiness in men and women, prayers and devotions have less supernatural value because to understand and to live our Faith, we must learn the ABC of the teachings of the Catholic Faith. The most IMPORTANT GIFT FROM GOD IS HOLINESS. Today we encourage all Catholics to discover the true meaning of Holiness.

TO BE A KNIGHT OF ST MICHAEL
One must strive to live a life of holiness . This is the most powerful virtue of God’s Love in us against evil. With holiness, we learn about unconditional love, obedience, patience, forgiveness, mercy and all that is pleasing to God.