THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
IN THE CHURCH by Pope Paul VI, November 21, 1964
Chapter 5 section 40. The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model
of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His
disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of
this holiness of life: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly
Father is perfect".(Matthew 5:48) Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men
that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their
whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength(Matthew 22:35–40 and Mark 12:30 .) and that they might love each other as Christ
loves them.( compare John
13.34; Jn 15:12.) The followers of Christ are called by God, not
because of their works, but according to His own purpose and grace. They are
justified in the Lord Jesus, because in the baptism of faith they truly become
sons of God and sharers in the divine nature. In this way they are really made
holy. Then too, by God's gift, they must hold on to and complete in their lives
this holiness they have received. They are warned by the Apostle to live
"as becomes saints",(Ephesians 5:3) and
to put on "as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved a heart of mercy,
kindness, humility, meekness, patience",(Colossians 3:12.) and to
possess the fruit of the Spirit in holiness.( compare Galatians 5:22; Romans 6:22.) Since truly we all offend in many things (compare James. 3:2.) we all
need God's mercies continually and we all must daily pray: "Forgive us our
debts"(Matthew
6:12.)( Romans 8:29.*)
Dedicated to my grandmother Sarah Cordelia Talmadge Bragg born 1860 became a Catholic at age 16 in 1876, To you I owe my faith. Don L. Bragg
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