342 SANCTITY IS OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

YOUCAT Lesson 342

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

342  Are we all supposed to become “saints”?

 Yes.  The purpose of our life is to be united with God in love and to correspond entirely to God’s wishes.  We should allow God “to live his life in us” (Mother Teresa).  That is what it means to be holy: a “saint”.  [2012-2016, 2028-2029]

Bishop's Youth Award recipient Anna-Marie King with Bishop Bambera of the Scranton PA diocese.  Anna-Marie is the granddaughter of my sister Carol (Bragg) Mazzarese. …..342

Every man asks himself the question: Who am I and why am I here, how do I find myself?  Faith answers: Only in holiness does man become that for which God created him.  Only in holiness does man find real harmony between himself and his Creator.  Holiness, however, is not some sort of self-made perfection; rather, it is union with the incarnate love that is Christ.  Anyone who gains life in this way finds himself and becomes holy.

“As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written,  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

 “Holiness is not the luxury of a few people, but a simple duty for you and me.”  Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

[2012-2016, 2028-2029]

 IV. CHRISTIAN HOLINESS

2012 "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified."( Romans 8:28-30.)⁶⁴ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2013 "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity."( Lumen et Gentes 40 § 2.)⁶⁵ All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."( Matthew 5:48.)⁶⁶ –CCC

In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.( Lumen et Gentes 40 § 2.)⁶⁷ --CCC

2014 Spiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ. This union is called "mystical" because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments - "the holy mysteries" - and, in him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. God calls us all to this intimate union with him, even if the special graces or extraordinary signs of this mystical life are granted only to some for the sake of manifesting the gratuitous gift given to all. --CCC

2015 The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.( Compare 2 Timothy 4.)⁶⁸ Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes: --CCC

He who climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows.( St. Gregory of Nyssa, Hom. in

 Cant. 8:Patrologia Graeca 44,941C. )⁶⁹ –CCC

 2016 The children of our holy mother the Church rightly hope for the grace of final perseverance and the recompense of God their Father for the good works accomplished with his grace in communion with Jesus.( Compare Council of Trent (1547): DS 1576.)⁷⁰ Keeping the same rule of life, believers share the "blessed hope" of those whom the divine mercy gathers into the "holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."( Revelation 21:2.)⁷¹ --CCC

IN BRIEF

2028 "All Christians . . . are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity" (Lumen et Gentes 40 § 2). "Christian perfection has but one limit, that of having none" (St. Gregory of Nyssa, De vita Mos.:Patrologia Graeca 44, 300D). --CCC

2029 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). --CCC