Holiness in and Through the Church
The Church was instituted by Christ to preach the Gospel throughout the world and dispense the sanctifying grace of Redemption through the Sacraments. Because she is the font of grace itself, the Church is called the “sacrament of salvation,” for by her ministry she continues the saving mission of Christ himself.
CCC 776: “As sacrament, the Church is Christ's instrument. "She is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all," "the universal sacrament of salvation," by which Christ is "at once manifesting and actualizing the mystery of God's love for men." The Church "is the visible plan of God's love for humanity," because God desires "that the whole human race may become one People of God, form one Body of Christ, and be built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit."
Holiness in the Catholic Church is the universal calling to union with God, achieved through grace, prayer, the sacraments, and daily virtuous living rather than mere moral perfection. It is "set apart" for God’s purposes, nurtured by the Church’s sacramental life (especially Eucharist and Confession) and lived out by following Christ’s example of love, service, and sacrifice.
Because she is united with Christ – St. Paul speaks of the Church as the Body of Christ, into which its members are incorporated through Baptism – the Church is made holy by Christ. Since she is united with Christ and empowered by Christ, she has the power to make us holy as well. The Church is holy.
CCC 824: “United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. "All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God." It is in the Church that "the fullness of the means of salvation" has been deposited. It is in her that "by the grace of God we acquire holiness."
The Church on earth, though holy, is imperfect for the very reason that all her members are imperfect. But individually and corporately, we approach perfection. The Church sanctifies her members, and they in turn help sanctify one another and the Church as a whole. This process is referred to as “building up the Church.”
CCC 2045: “Because they are members of the Body whose Head is Christ, Christians contribute to building up the Church by the constancy of their convictions and their moral lives. The Church increases, grows, and develops through the holiness of her faithful, until "we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Through prayer and the regular reception of the Sacraments, the source of so much grace, the faithful are given the grace to live according to the teachings of Christ and to love God and neighbor with the heart of Christ. However, without prayer a person may learn about Christ’s teaching, but will not as readily cooperate with the grace to put it into practice. Prayer is our ally against temptation and is called a “battle” because it calls us to watchfulness against the potential of sin.
With Christ as our model, our entire lives can become sacramental and that grace will permeate virtually our every moment of our lives. Christ calls us to take up and carry our cross daily and follow him.
CCC 2015: “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.”
—Deacon Gerry Flamm
“Dear children, I am praying for you and encouraging you to a new life, a life in joy and prayer. May the Holy Spirit fill you, little children, with joy so that you may be like a spring of pure and drinkable water; that you, little children, may be in God and with God missionaries of love and peace. Your life is short here on earth and that is why I am with you to lead you towards Heaven. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
