On Holiness and Purity of Heart

"The Christian life is seen as a journey...where God's unselfish love reigns in our hearts. God is aware that we cannot journey alone, "for He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might inspire them from within to love God...and that they might love one another as Christ loved them." This striving for the perfection of charity, this aiming at the immediate goal of purity of heart...is a journey into holiness.

All of us are to journey into holiness and purity of heart. It is easy to picture laymen saying parish priests are called to holiness, diocesan priests saying the religious orders are called to holiness, the religious saying the Trappists are called to holiness, the Trappists saying the Carthusians are called to holiness, the Carthusians saying only God is holy. This unholy passing of the buck is not the word of God.

"The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfections, preached holiness of life to each and every one of his disciples, regardless of their situation: 'You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mat 5:48).'"

Again the council fathers say, 'Thus it is evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to perfections of charity." The Vatican Council is the clearest statement ever that the journey into purity of heart is for each and every one of us."

~Joseph Breult, Seeking Purity of Heart: The Gift of Ourselves to God

*Emphasis added