“(…) Christianity is meant above all to be put into practice. It can also be an object of study and reflection, but only to help us better live the Gospel in our daily lives.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 109
Some current pitfalls on the path to authentic Christian holiness
In his apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis tries to outline certain pitfalls on the path to holiness as well as authentic Christian marks and practices – all in light of “today‘s world“. He dedicates a whole chapter to the dangers of “contemporary Gnosticism“ and “contemporary Pelagianism“ (see: https://alongthewayblog.net/2021/07/07/the-bishop-of-rome-on-two-subtle-enemies-of-holiness/), and gives additional warnings here and there with respect to certain tendencies present in our current culture:
“Hedonism and consumerism can prove our downfall, for when we are obsessed with our own pleasure, we end up being all too concerned about ourselves and our rights, and we feel a desperate need for free time to enjoy ourselves. We will find it hard to feel and show any real concern for those in need, unless we are able to cultivate a certain simplicity of life, resisting the feverish demands of a consumer society, which leave us impoverished and unsatisfied, anxious to have it all now. Similarly, when we allow ourselves to be caught up in superficial information, instant communication and virtual reality, we can waste precious time and become indifferent to the suffering flesh of our brothers and sisters. Yet even amid this whirlwind of activity, the Gospel continues to resound, offering us the promise of a different life, a healthier and happier life.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 108; 26 ; 29 ; 30; 115
“It is not healthy to love silence while fleeing interaction with others, to want peace and quiet while avoiding activity, to seek prayer while disdaining service. Everything can be accepted and integrated into our life in this world, and become a part of our path to holiness. We are called to be contemplatives even in the midst of action, and to grow in holiness by responsibly and generously carrying out our proper mission.“
“This does not mean ignoring the need for moments of quiet, solitude and silence before God. Quite the contrary. The presence of constantly new gadgets, the excitement of travel and and endless array of consumer goods at times leave no room for God‘s voice to be heard. We are overwhelmed by words, by superficial pleasures and by an increasing din, filled not by joy but rather by the discontent of those whose lives have lost meaning. How can we fail to realize that we need to stop this rat race and to recover the personal space needed to carry on a heartfelt dialogue with God? Finding that space may prove painful but it is always fruitful. Sooner or later, we have to face our true selves and let the Lord enter. (…)“
“The same distractions that are omnipresent in today‘s world also make us tend to absolutize our free time, so that we can give ourselves over completely to the devices that provide us with entertainment or ephemeral pleasures. As a result, we come to resent our mission, our commitment grows slack, and our generous and ready spirit of service begins to flag. This denatures our spiritual experience. Can any spiritual fervour be sound when it dwells alongside sloth in evangelization or in service to others?“
“Christians too can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forms of digital communication. Even in Catholic media, limits can be overstepped, defamation and slander can become commonplace, and all ethical standards and respect for the good name of others can be abandoned. The result is a dangerous dichotomy, since things can be said there that would be unacceptable in public discourse, and people look to compensate for their own discontent by lashing out at others. It is striking that, at times, in claiming to uphold the other commandments, they completely ignore the eighth, which forbids bearing false witness or lying, and ruthlessly vilify others. Here we see how the unguarded tongue, set on fire by hell, sets all things ablaze (cf. Jas 3: 6).“
Called to holiness
Pope Francis opens the exhortation with a chapter on the “call to holiness“, reiterating one of the dominant themes of the Second Vatican Council: all, regardless of their specific life situation, are called to become saints.
“To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. (…)“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 14; 15; 19; 20; 24
“Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life (cf. Gal 5: 22-23). When you feel the temptation to dwell on your own weakness, raise your eyes to Christ crucified and say: ‘Lord, I am a poor sinner, but you can work the miracle of making me a little bit better‘. In the Church, holy yet made up of sinners, you will find everything you need to grow towards holiness. (…)“
“A Christian cannot think of his or her mission on earth without seeing it as a path of holiness, for ‘this is the will of God, your sanctification‘ (1 Thess 4: 3). Each saint is a mission, planned by the Father to reflect and embody, at a specific moment in history, a certain aspect of the Gospel.“
“That mission has its fullest meaning in Christ, and can only be understood through him. At its core, holiness is experiencing, in union with Christ, the mysteries of his life. It consists in uniting ourselves to the Lord‘s death and resurrection in a unique and personal way, constantly dying and rising anew with him. (…)“
“(…) Let yourself be renewed by the Spirit, so that this can happen, lest you fail in your precious mission. The Lord will bring it to fulfilment despite your mistakes and missteps, provided that you do not abandon the path of love but remain ever open to his supernatural grace, which purifies and enlightens.“
“Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity.
“Signs of holiness in today‘s world“
In Chapter Three, Pope Francis takes a look at the Beatitudes, stating that they “are like a Christian‘s identity card“ (ibid. par. 63). He concludes his reflections in this chapter with the following hint:
“Those who really wish to give glory to God by their lives, who truly long to grow in holiness, are called to be single-minded and tenacious in their practice of the works of mercy. (…)“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 107
Chapter Four of the apostolic exhortation proves particularly interesting. The Holy Father makes the attempt “to highlight (…) five great expressions of love for God and neighbour (…) of particular importance in the light of certain dangers and limitations present in today‘s culture“ (ibid. par. 111).
“There we see a sense of anxiety, sometimes violent, that distracts and debilitates; negativity and sullenness; the self-content bred by consumerism; individualism; and all those forms of ersatz spirituality – having nothing to do with God – that dominate the current religious marketplace.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 111
Once again, Pope Francis points us to dominant cultural tendencies that make the journey along an authentic Christian path of holiness at once difficult and all the more necessary. “Ersatz spirituality“ is an interesting term. He does not go into any details what he means by it – but the whole paragraph made me think of a verse we read in Saint Paul the Apostle‘s letter to Saint Timothy:
“But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come – for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, hardhearted, unforgiving, backbiting, without self-control, brutal, hating what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!“
2 Timothy 3: 1-5
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Or maybe, in other words: following some kind of “ersatz spirituality“ instead of a true path of holiness…
The following excerpts explore five marks of a countercultural Christian way of life.
Perseverance, patience and meekness
“The first of these great signs is solid grounding in the God who loves and sustains us. This source of inner strength enables us to persevere amid life‘s ups and downs, but also to endure hostility, betrayal and failings on the part of others. (…) Such inner strength makes it possible for us, in our fast-paced, noisy and aggressive world, to give a witness of holiness through patience and constancy in doing good. It is a sign of the fidelity born of love, for those who put their faith in God (pistís) can also be faithful to others (pistós). They do not desert others in bad times; they accompany them in their anxiety and distress, even though doing so may not bring immediate satisfaction.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 112; 114; 116-118
“We need to recognize and combat our aggressive and selfish inclinations, and not let them take root. ‘Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger‘ (Eph 4: 26). When we feel overwhelmed, we can always cling to the anchor of prayer, which puts us back in God‘s hands and the source of our peace. (…)“
“Inner strength, as the work of grace, prevents us from becoming carried away by the violence that is so much a part of life today, because grace defuses vanity and makes possible meekness of heart. The saints do not waste their energy complaining about the failings of others; they can hold their tongue before the faults of their brothers and sisters, and avoid the verbal violence that demeans and mistreats others. Saints hesitate to treat others harshly; they consider others better than themselves (cf. Phil 2: 3).“
“It is not good when we look down on others like heartless judges, lording it over them and always trying to teach them lessons. That is itself a subtle form of violence. Saint John of the Cross proposed a different path: ‘Always prefer to be taught by all, rather than to desire teaching even the least of all.‘ (…)“
“Humility can only take root in the heart through humiliations. Without them, there is no humility or holiness. If you are unable to suffer and offer up a few humiliations, you are not humble and you are not on the path to holiness. (…) Humiliation makes you resemble Jesus; it is an unavoidable aspect of the imitation of Christ. (…)“
Joy and a sense of good humour
“Far from being timid, morose, acerbic or melancholy, or putting on a dreary face, the saints are joyful and full of good humour. Though completely realistic, they radiate a positive and hopeful spirit. The Christian life is ‘joy in the Holy Spirit‘ (Rom 14: 17), for ‘the necessary result of the love of charity is joy; since every lover rejoices at being united to the beloved… the effect of charity is joy‘. (…)“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 122
In the final part of this statement here, Pope Francis is quoting Saint Thomas Aquinas. He goes on to focus on the joy of the prophets in their anticipation of “the times of Jesus, in which we now live“ (ibid. par. 123), and on the joy of the Blessed Virigin, Jesus Himself, and His disciples. It is a joy of supernatural, divine origin bringing “deep security, serene hope and a spiritual fulfilment that the world cannot understand or appreciate“ (ibid. par. 125).
“Christian joy is usually accompanied by a sense of humour. We see this clearly, for example, in Saint Thomas More, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Philip Neri. Ill humour is not sign of holiness. ‘Remove vexation from your mind‘ (Eccl 11: 10). We receive so much from the Lord ‘for our enjoyment‘ (1 Tim 6: 17), that sadness can be a sign of ingratitude. We can get so caught up in ourselves that we are unable to recognize God‘s gifts.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 126-128
“With the love of a father, God tells us: ‘My son, treat yourself well… Do not deprive yourself of a happy day‘ (Sir 14: 11; 14). He wants us to be positive, grateful and uncomplicated: ‘In the day of prosperity, be joyful… God created human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes‘ (Eccl 7: 14; 29). Whatever the case, we should remain resilient and imitate Saint Paul: ‘I have learned to be content with what I have‘ (Phil 4: 11). Saint Francis of Assisi lived by this; he could be overwhelmed with gratitude before a piece of hard bread, or joyfully praise God for the breeze that caressed his face.“
“This is not the joy held out by today‘s individualistic and consumerist culture. Consumerism only bloats the heart. It can offer occasional and passing pleasures, but not joy. Here I am speaking of a joy lived in communion, which shares and is shared, since ‘there is more happiness in giving than in receiving‘ (Acts 20: 35) and ‘God loves a cheerful giver‘ (2 Cor 9: 7). Fraternal love increases our capacity for joy, since it makes us capable of rejoicing in the good of others: ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice‘ (Rom 12: 25). ‘We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong‘ (2 Cor 13: 9). On the other hand, when we ‘focus primarily on our own needs, we condemn ourselves to a joyless existence‘.“
The Holy Father thus points us to the various connections between gratitude, love, fraternity, and true happiness, contentment, and joy, and how good humor shows that someone has a realistic attitude towards life as a gift. And the true Christian joy prevails in the midst of hardships.
It is important to understand that true joy always is the joy of love – the joy of being loved and loving in return. All things that could disturb our capacity of receiving divine love or disrupt our mutual partaking in a fraternal love that goes beyond ourselves are potential thieves of joy.
“Therefore let us not judge one another from now on, but rather decide this – not to put a stumbling block or a trap in the way of a brother. I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Yeshua, that nothing is unholy in itself; but it is unholy for the one who considers it unholy. For if your brother is grieved on account of food, you are no longer walking according to love.
Romans 14: 13 – 15: 2
Do not destroy by your food the one for whom Messiah died. Therefore do not let what is good for you be spoken of as evil – for the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh. For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to God and approved by men.
So then let us pursue what makes for shalom and for the building up of one another. Stop tearing down the work of God for the sake of food. Indeed all things are clean, but wrong for the man who by eating causes stumbling. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith you have, keep it to yourself before God. How fortunate is the one who does not condemn himself for what he approves. But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not of faith. And whatever is not of faith is sin.
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, for building him up.“
“The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly!“
John 10: 10
Boldness and passion
“Holiness is also parrhesía: it is boldness, an impulse to evangelize and to leave a mark in this world. To allow us to do this, Jesus himself comes and tells us once more, serenely yet firmly: ‘Do not be afraid‘ (Mk 6: 50). ‘I am with you always, to the end of the world‘ (Mt 28: 20). These words enable us to go forth and serve with the same courage that the Holy Spirit stirred up in the Apostles, impelling them to proclaim Jesus Christ. Boldness, enthusiasm, the freedom to speak out, apostolic fervour, all these are included in the word parrhesía. The Bible also uses this word to describe the freedom of a life open to God and to others (cf. Acts 4: 29, 9: 28, 28: 31; 2 Cor 3: 12; Eph 3: 12; Heb 3: 6, 10: 19).“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 129-131; 133-139
“Blessed Paul VI, in referring to obstacles to evangelization, spoke of a lack of fervour (parrhesía) that is ‘all the more serious because it comes from within‘. How often we are tempted to keep close to the shore! Yet the Lord calls us to put out into the deep and let down our nets (cf. Lk 5: 4). He bids us spend our lives in his service. Clinging to him, we are inspired to put all our charisms at the service of others. My we always feel compelled by his love (2 Cor 5: 14) and say with Saint Paul: ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel‘ (1 Cor 9: 16).“
“Look at Jesus. His deep compassion reached out to others. It did not make him hesitant, timid or self-conscious, as often happens with us. Quite the opposite. His compassion made him go out actively to preach and to send others on a mission of healing and liberation. Let us acknowledge our weakness, but allow Jesus to lay hold of it and send us too on mission. (…)“
“We need the Spirit‘s prompting, lest we be paralyzed by fear and excessive caution, lest we grow used to keeping within safe bounds. Let us remember that closed spaces grow musty and unhealthy. (…)“
“Like the prophet Jonah, we are constantly tempted to flee to a safe haven. It can have many names: individualism, spiritualism, living in a little world, addiction, intransigence, the rejection of new ideas and approaches, dogmatism, nostalgia, pessimism, hiding behind rules and regulations. We can resist leaving behind a familiar and easy way of doing things. (…)“
“God is eternal newness. He impels us constantly to set out anew, to pass beyond what is familiar, to the fringes and beyond. (…) God is not afraid! He is fearless! He is always greater than our plans and schemes. (…)“
“True enough, we need to open the door of our hearts to Jesus, who stands and knocks (cf. Rev 3: 20). Sometimes I wonder, though, if perhaps Jesus is already inside us and knocking on the door for us to let him escape from our stale self-centeredness. In the Gospel, we see how Jesus ‘went through the cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God‘ (Lk 8: 1). After the resurrection, when the disciples went forth in all directions, the Lord accompanied them (cf. Mk 16: 20). This is what happens as the result of true encounter.“
“Complacency is seductive; it tells that there is no point in trying to change things, that there is nothing we can do, because this is the way things have always been and yet we always manage to survive. By force of habit we no longer stand up to evil. We ‘let things be‘, or as others have decided they ought to be. Yet let us allow the Lord to rouse us from our torpor, to free us from our inertia. (…)“
“(…) more than bureaucrats and functionaries, the Church needs passionate missionaries, enthusiastic about sharing true life. The saints surprise us, they confound us, because by their lives they urge us to abandon a dull and dreary mediocrity.“
“Let us ask the Lord for the grace not to hesitate when the Spirit calls us to take a step forward. Let us ask for the apostolic courage to share the Gospel with others and to stop trying to make our Christian life a museum of memories. (…)“
“The Church needs a perennial Pentecost. She needs fire in her heart, words on her lips, prophecy in her outlook.“
Pope Saint Paul VI
“Our understanding is limited: thus the Spirit‘s mission is to introduce the Church, in an ever new way from generation to generation, into the greatness of Christ‘s mystery.“
Pope Benedict XVI
In community
“When we live apart from others, it is very difficult to fight against concupiscence, the snares and temptations of the devil and the selfishness. Bombarded as we are by so many enticements, we can grow too isolated, lose our sense of reality and inner clarity, and easily succumb.“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 140-146
“Growth in holiness is a journey in community, side by side with others. (…) Living and working alongside others is surely a path of spiritual growth. Saint John of the Cross told one of his followers: ‘You are living with others in order to be fashioned and tried‘.“
“Each community is called to create a ‘God-enlightened space in which to experience the hidden presence of the risen Lord‘. Sharing the word and celebrating the Eucharist together fosters fraternity and makes us a holy and missionary community. It also gives rise to authentic and shared mystical experiences. (…)“
“(…) The common life, whether in the familiy, the parish, the religious community or any other, is made up of small everyday things. (…)“
“Let us not forget that Jesus asked his disciples to pay attention to details.
The little detail that wine was running out at a party.
The little detail that one sheep was missing.
The little detail of noticing the widow who offered her two small coins.
The little detail of having spare oil for the lamps, should the bridegroom delay.
The little detail of asking the disciples how many loaves of bread they had.
The little detail of having a fire burning and a fish cooking as he waited for the disciples at daybreak.“
“A community that cherishes the little details of love, whose members care for one another and create an open and evangelizing environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying it in accordance with the Father‘s plan. (…)“
“Contrary to the growing consumerist individualism that tends to isolate us in a quest fro well-being apart from others, our path to holiness can only make us identify all the more with Jesus‘ prayer ‘that all may be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you‘ (Jn 17: 21).“
In constant prayer
“(…) The saints are distinguished by a spirit of prayer and a need for communion with God. (…)“
Gaudete et Exsultate, Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today‘s World by the Holy Father Francis, par. 147; 149-151; 154; 156
“(…) For Saint Teresa of Avila, prayer ‘is nothing but friendly intercourse and frequent solitary converse, with him who we know loves us‘. (…)“
“In that silence, we can discern, in the light of the Spirit, the paths of holiness to which the Lord is calling us. Otherwise, any decisions we make may only be window-dressing that, rather than exalting the Gospel in our lives, will mask or submerge it. For each disciple, it is essential to spend time with the Master, to listen to his words, and to learn from him always. Unless we listen, all our words will be nothing but useless chatter.“
“(…) Unless you let him warm you more and more with his love and tenderness, you will not catch fire. How will you then be able to set the hearts of others on fire by your words and witness? If, gazing on the face of Christ, you feel unable to let yourself be healed and transformed, then enter into the Lord‘s heart, into his wounds, for that is the abode of divine mercy.“
“Prayer of supplication is an expression of a heart that trusts in God and realizes that of itself it can do nothing. The life of God’s faithful people is marked by constant supplication born of faith-filled love and great confidence. (…) Prayer of intercession has particular value, for it is an act of trust in God and, at the same time, an expression of love for our neighbour. There are those who think, based on a one-sided spirituality, that prayer should be unalloyed contemplation of God, free of all distraction, as if the names and faces of others were somehow an intrusion to be avoided. Yet in reality, our prayer will be all the more pleasing to God and more effective for our growth in holiness if, through intercession, we attempt to practise the twofold commandment that Jesus left us. Intercessory prayer is an expression of our fraternal concern for others, since we are able to embrace their lives, their deepest troubles and their loftiest dreams. Of those who commit themselves generously to intercessory prayer we can apply the words of Scripture: ‘This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people‘ (2 Mac 15: 14).“
“The prayerful reading of God‘s word, which is ‘sweeter than honey‘ (Ps 119: 103) yet a ‘two-edged sword‘ (Heb 4: 12), enables us to pause and listen to the voice of the Master. It becomes a lamp for our steps and a light for our path (cf. Ps 119: 105). As the bishops of India have reminded us, ‘devotion to the word of God is not simply one of many devotions, beautiful but somewhat optional. It goes to the very heart and identity of Christian life. The word has the power to transform lives.‘“