Universal Call to Holiness

“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity”. “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. God wants us to be holy. One must try to sanctify oneself in one’s place within the Church of Christ.

“[Lay Christians] live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven.”
“By their very vocation, they seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God. They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations.”

“Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvellously called and prepared, so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit -indeed even the hardships of life, if patiently borne- all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so, worshiping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrates the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives.

“Priests will acquire holiness in their own distinctive way by exercising their functions sincerely and tirelessly in the Spirit of Christ.
“Since they are ministers of the Word of God, they read and hear every day the Word of God, which they must teach to others. If they strive at the same time to make it part of their own lives, they will become daily more perfect disciples of the Lord ….

In order to sanctify ourselves in the ordinary circumstances of our life, we need to grow in our spiritual life, especially through prayer, self-denial, and work.