how to become a saint

““Be perfect as my Be perfect as my Heavenly Father is Heavenly Father is perfect”perfect”

19281928 19681968 19881988 20082008 POST-SYNODAL

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATIONCHRISTIFIDELES LAICI OFJOHN PAUL IION THE VOCATION AND THE MISSIONOF THE LAY FAITHFULIN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD

HOLINESS (CFL)HOLINESS (CFL)

16. We come to a full sense of the dignity of the lay faithful if we consider the prime and fundamental vocation that the Father assigns to each of them in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit: the vocation to holiness, that is, the perfection of charity.

..."to be holy in all conduct" (1 Pt 1:15).

The Extraordinary Synod about the LAY PEOPLE, twenty years after the Council, opportunely insisted on this urgency: " the Church ...ought to be considered the sign and instrument of holiness... Men and women saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult circumstances in the Church's history. Today we have the greatest need of saints whom we must assiduously beg God to raise up"(42).

How to become a saint?How to become a saint?What kind of holiness?What kind of holiness?

Different Different spiritualitiesspiritualities

Same sanctitySame sanctity IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION

WITH JESUS WITH JESUS CHRISTCHRIST

How to be How to be declared a saint? declared a saint? ProcessProcess

Some men and women who Some men and women who have been canonizedhave been canonized

Some people in ProcessSome people in Process

HOLINESSHOLINESS THE WAY 301 A secret,

an open secret: these world crises are crises of saints.God wants a handful of men 'of his own' in every human activity. And then... 'pax Christi in regno Christi — the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ'.

Within the lay state diverse "vocations" are given.

There are different paths in the spiritual life and the apostolate which are taken by individual members of the lay faithful

Secular Institutes Associations Prelatures

FRANCIS de Sales

1567-1622 ““St. Francis,”St. Francis,” Cardinal Luciani Cardinal Luciani

wrote, wrote, “proclaimed “proclaimed sanctity for sanctity for everyoneeveryone, but seems to have , but seems to have taught only a ‘taught only a ‘spirituality for lay spirituality for lay people,’people,’ whereas whereas Msgr. Escriva Msgr. Escriva wants a ‘lay spirituality.’wants a ‘lay spirituality.’ Francis, Francis, in other words, nearly always in other words, nearly always suggests for the laity the same suggests for the laity the same practical means used by religious, practical means used by religious, but with suitable modifications. but with suitable modifications. Escriva is more radical; he goes so Escriva is more radical; he goes so far as to talk about ‘materializing’, far as to talk about ‘materializing’, in the good sense, that quest for in the good sense, that quest for holiness. For him, holiness. For him, it is the it is the material work which must be material work which must be turned into prayer and sanctity.”turned into prayer and sanctity.”

The Life of Holiness in the World

17. The vocation of the lay faithful to holiness implies that life according to the Spirit expresses itself in a particular way in their involvement in temporal affairs and in their participation in earthly activities. Once again the apostle admonishes us: "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus... (Col 3:17).

LAY PEOPLE: LAY PEOPLE: FOUNDATIONS OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE

CHURCHCHURCH 17. ...the vocation to holiness is

intimately connected to mission and to the responsibility entrusted to the lay faithful in the Church and in the world. In fact, that same holiness which is derived simply from their participation in the Church's holiness, represents their first and fundamental contribution to the building of the Church herself.

Wonderful scene

17. ...that of a countless number of lay people, both women and men, busy at work in their daily life and activity, oftentimes far from view and quite unacclaimed by the world, unknown to the world's great personages but nonetheless looked upon in love by the Father, untiring labourers who work in the Lord's vineyard.

CANONIZATION CANONIZATION PROCESSESPROCESSES

17. "Particular Churches especially should be attentive to recognizing among their members the younger men and women of those Churches who have given witness to holiness in such conditions (everyday secular conditions and the conjugal state) and who can be an example for others, so that, if the case calls for it, they (the Churches) might propose them to be beatified and canonized"(Propositio 8).

Women and Men, Women and Men, in Vatican IIin Vatican II

When speaking of active and responsible participation in the life and mission of the Church...: "Since in our days women are taking an increasingly active share in the whole life of society, it is very important that they participate more widely also in the various fields of the Church's apostolate"(AA, 9)

Women with their own gifts and tasksgifts and tasks have their own specific vocationtheir own specific vocation

Many women, nevertheless, accompanied Jesus in his ministry and assisted the group of Apostles (cf. Lk 8:2-3)

were present at the foot of the Cross (cf. Lk 23:49)

The first to receive and transmit the message of resurrection on Easter morning (cf. Lk 24:1-10)

and prayed with the apostles in the prayed with the apostles in the CenacleCenacle awaiting Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:14).

Saint Giovanna Beretta,Martyr for the Unborn 1922-

1962 Giovanna Francesca Beretta was

born Oct. 4, 1922 in Milan Gianna was accepted to the Faculty

of Medicine at the University of Milan in 1942, the same year both her parents died.

Alberto and Maria Beretta left an extraordinary legacy in their children as two became priests, one became a nun and physician, two others became physicians, one became an engineer and another a pharmacist.

UNITY OF LIFEUNITY OF LIFE

For Gianna her abiding faith guided her in her practice of medicine. Her belief in the sacredness of all life was solid. On the topic of abortion she said: “the “the doctor should not meddle. The right of doctor should not meddle. The right of the child to live is equal to the right of the child to live is equal to the right of the mother's life. The doctor cannot the mother's life. The doctor cannot decide; it is a sin to kill in the womb"decide; it is a sin to kill in the womb"

She married Pietro Molla in 1955. Three children: Pierluigi, Maria Zita and Laura.

According to Gianna: "the secret of "the secret of happiness is living moment by moment happiness is living moment by moment and to thank God for everything that in and to thank God for everything that in His goodness He sends us, day after His goodness He sends us, day after day"day"

Gianna became pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Early in the pregnancy a tumor in her ovary was discovered. Of the treatments discussed, Gianna chose the one that would most likely spare the child, even though it would endanger her own life. For her the choice was simple: save the save the life of the child first and foremost. life of the child first and foremost.

BEATIFIED 1994. CANONIZED BEATIFIED 1994. CANONIZED 20042004

The child, Gianna Emanuela, was born on April 21. After the birth of her child, septic peritonitis set in. The physical pain, however, was eclipsed by the agonizing thought of leaving her four children without their mother.

Gianna asked to be taken home where she died on April 28, 1962, at 8:00 a.m.

Features of the lay faithful according to Vatican II:

1Called by God in the world and to live in the world

2 Sanctify the world from within: Christifideles laici 16Christifideles laici 16

3

they are engaged in each and every work and engaged in each and every work and business of the earthbusiness of the earth and in the ordinary circumstances of social and family life which, as it were, constitute their very existence.

MISSION ON EARTHMISSION ON EARTH

MISSION OF THE LAY FAIETHFUL

Mission comes from BaptismA

They do not have the “sacra potestas” to act in personaChristi capitis, but they share in the Office of Christ, thanks to their common priesthood.

B

C Secular condition.

HOW TO BECOME HOLY?HOW TO BECOME HOLY?DIVINE FILIATION, SANCTIFICATION, GRACE & DIVINE FILIATION, SANCTIFICATION, GRACE &

VIRTUESVIRTUES

- Sanctification is progress in holiness.

To grow in sanctity one must cooperate with grace, and this requires effort, struggle., because of the disorder introduced by sin (fomes peccati = inclination to sin).- Need of grace through prayer + mortification + sacraments.- Union with Christ: it will be definitive only in Heaven.

HOMILY “Towards Sanctity”HOMILY “Towards Sanctity”In “Friends of God”In “Friends of God”

294 SANCTITY FOR ALL294 SANCTITY FOR ALL We are deeply moved, and our hearts We are deeply moved, and our hearts

profoundly shaken, when we listen attentively profoundly shaken, when we listen attentively to that cry of St Paul: 'This is God's will for you, to that cry of St Paul: 'This is God's will for you, your sanctification.' your sanctification.'

I am often asked: 'What do you say to us I am often asked: 'What do you say to us married folk? To those of us who work on the married folk? To those of us who work on the land? To widows? To young people?'land? To widows? To young people?'

I reply systematically that I have only 'one I reply systematically that I have only 'one stewing pot'. I usually go on to point out that stewing pot'. I usually go on to point out that Our Lord Jesus Christ preached the good news Our Lord Jesus Christ preached the good news to all, without distinction. to all, without distinction.


296 PRAYER296 PRAYER We start with vocal prayers which We start with vocal prayers which

many of us have been saying since many of us have been saying since we were children. we were children.

First one brief aspiration, then First one brief aspiration, then another, and another... till our another, and another... till our fervour seems insufficient, because fervour seems insufficient, because words are too poor...: then this gives words are too poor...: then this gives way to intimacy with God, looking at way to intimacy with God, looking at God without needing rest or feeling God without needing rest or feeling tired. tired.


298 Difficulties298 Difficulties It may be that, even from the It may be that, even from the

beginning, dark clouds will appear beginning, dark clouds will appear and, at the same time, the and, at the same time, the enemies of our sanctification may enemies of our sanctification may employ techniques of employ techniques of psychological terrorism …psychological terrorism …


299 Humanity of Jesus Christ299 Humanity of Jesus Christ In order to draw close to God we must take In order to draw close to God we must take

the right road, which is the Sacred Humanity the right road, which is the Sacred Humanity of Christ. This is why I have always advised of Christ. This is why I have always advised people to read books on the Lord's Passion. people to read books on the Lord's Passion. Such works, which are full of true piety, Such works, which are full of true piety, bring to our minds the Son of God, a Man bring to our minds the Son of God, a Man like ourselves and also true God, who in his like ourselves and also true God, who in his flesh loves and suffers to redeem the world.flesh loves and suffers to redeem the world.

Take the Holy Rosary, one of the most Take the Holy Rosary, one of the most deeply rooted of Christian devotions. The deeply rooted of Christian devotions. The Church encourages us to contemplate its Church encourages us to contemplate its mysteries. mysteries.


299 Humanity of Jesus Christ299 Humanity of Jesus Christ To follow Christ — that is the secret. We To follow Christ — that is the secret. We

must accompany him so closely that we must accompany him so closely that we come to live with him, like the first Twelve come to live with him, like the first Twelve did; so closely, that we become identified did; so closely, that we become identified with him. with him.

300300 I have distinguished as it were four stages I have distinguished as it were four stages

in our effort to identify ourselves with in our effort to identify ourselves with Christ: seeking him, finding him, getting Christ: seeking him, finding him, getting to know him, loving him.to know him, loving him.


301 Love for the Cross301 Love for the Cross But do not forget that being with But do not forget that being with

Jesus means we shall most certainly Jesus means we shall most certainly come upon his Cross. When we come upon his Cross. When we abandon ourselves into God's hands, abandon ourselves into God's hands, he frequently permits us to taste he frequently permits us to taste sorrow, loneliness, opposition, sorrow, loneliness, opposition, slander, defamation, ridicule, coming slander, defamation, ridicule, coming both from within and from outside. both from within and from outside.

Wounds of Jesus ChristWounds of Jesus Christ


306 Distinguish the Persons of the Trinity306 Distinguish the Persons of the Trinity Our heart now needs to distinguish and Our heart now needs to distinguish and

adore each one of the divine Persons. adore each one of the divine Persons. The soul is, as it were, making a The soul is, as it were, making a discovery in the supernatural life, like a discovery in the supernatural life, like a little child opening his eyes to the world little child opening his eyes to the world about him. The soul spends time lovingly about him. The soul spends time lovingly with the Father and the Son and the Holy with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and readily submits to the work of Spirit, and readily submits to the work of the life-giving Paraclete, who gives the life-giving Paraclete, who gives himself to us with no merit on our part, himself to us with no merit on our part, bestowing his gifts and the supernatural bestowing his gifts and the supernatural virtues!virtues!


312-314 Journey towards Emaus 312-314 Journey towards Emaus Journey of Ordinary lifeJourney of Ordinary life

The road to Emmaus: our God has The road to Emmaus: our God has filled this name with sweetness. filled this name with sweetness. Now the entire world has become Now the entire world has become an Emmaus, for the Lord has an Emmaus, for the Lord has opened up all the divine paths of opened up all the divine paths of the earth.the earth.


315 With the holy Angels315 With the holy Angels With MaryWith Mary With love for the ChurchWith love for the Church


Sanctify work and all ordinary realitiesMay the Mother of God and our Mother protect us, … May each one of us joyfully honour the Lord by carrying out his own duties, those which are properly his; each one of us, in his job or profession and fulfilling the obligations of his state in life.

Love the Church; serve the Church with the conscious gladness of one who has committed himself to this service for Love's sake.


Mission: teaching

Apostolate: right and duty

1. Adquire formation in Catholic Doctrine2. The light of the faith should be seen in works and decissions3. To work so that the divine message of salvationreach all environments (Apostolicam actuositatem 3Apostolicam actuositatem 3).

how to become a saint

Education

life of holiness

churchs holiness

instrument of holiness

thevocationto holiness

holiness cfl

kind of holiness

lay spirituality

women saints