IV. Christian Holiness
2012
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . .
. For those whom he fore knew 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."64
2013
"All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of
Christian life and to the perfection of charity."65 All are called
to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is
perfect."66
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.67
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.
2015
The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without
renunciation and spiritual battle.68 Spiritual progress entails the
ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of
the Beatitudes:
He who climbs never stops
going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He
never stops desiring what he already knows.69
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.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."71
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