Called to Holiness — Chapter 1 (Introduction to Catholicism)

Chapter focus

Chapter: Called to Holiness (Chapter 1) from Introduction to Catholicism
Primary questions addressed:
- What is the universal call to holiness?
- What is a saint?
- What is grace and its role in the Christian life?
- What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
- What is our role in the evangelical mission of the Church?

Sanctity and the thirst for Christ

Opening thought: there is a spiritual thirst, a longing for Christ and holiness.
The Sacred Heart image and the idea of Christ’s thirst: when Christ says "I thirst" He thirsts for the return to the Father.
Applying Christ’s thirst to us: a thirst for holiness, to be saints, to be at peace with God the Father.
Definition of sanctity (sanctity):
- Sanctity is Christ living in me so that His mind possesses my mind and I am governed by His truth; He is in my will and in my body, making the body a tabernacle.
- Sanctity is not only Christ in me; it is making Christ known to others and making Christ lovable; when others see us, they should see Christ. (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)

Chapter One: overview of key concepts

The universal call to holiness
What is a saint?
What is grace and its role in the Christian life?
What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
Our role in the evangelical mission of the Church

Perfection and the call to holiness

Christ’s call to perfection: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" $Mt ext{ }5:48$ .
Every Christian is called to holiness, the fullness of the Christian life, and the perfection of charity.
Perfection: a lofty goal that is ultimately impossible in this life, yet Christians are called to strive for it.
Catechism foundation: God created humans to share in His divine life; God invites us to seek Him, know Him, love Him with all our strength, and to unity in the Church through the Holy Spirit. This is CCC 1.
Perfection and Heaven: true perfection is fulfilled in Heaven; our earthly journey is a pilgrimage toward that perfection with God’s help.
The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) emphasis on holiness for all: LG 40 (The universal call to holiness).
The Church is holy, yet its members are still striving for holiness; LG 41 emphasizes growth in holiness through life in the Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Vatican II

The Catechism (published 1992; updated 1997) as a key doctrinal reference.
Vatican II documents referenced: LG (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), especially LG 40 and LG 41; Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World).
LG 40: The Lord Jesus calls all disciples to holiness; justification through baptism; adoption as children of God; participation in divine life.
LG 41: The Church on earth is endowed with real but imperfect holiness; all the faithful, in different states, are called to the perfection of sanctity; ultimate perfection is in heaven.
Pilgrim Church concept: life on earth as a journey toward heaven; faithfulness to God’s will and cooperation with divine grace.
Augustine’s quote on the Church’s pilgrimage amidst persecutions and consolations (St. Augustine, City of God cited).

St. Augustine and St. Paul: models of holiness and mission

St. Augustine (354–430): born in present-day Algeria; conversion aided by St. Monica; ordained priest, then bishop of Hippo; influential writings on Original Sin, Sacraments, the Church, just war, infant baptism; author of the Confessions.
St. Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles; conversion from Saul after hearing Christ; missionary work among Gentiles; author of Epistles (Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, Hebrews, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon).
Paul’s role emphasizes the universal mission of the Church and the call to evangelize beyond Jewish boundaries.

The Body of Christ and the lay apostolate

One Body in Christ: the Second Vatican Council describes the faithful as the Mystical Body of Christ; each member has a unique role in the Church.
Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem): all the faithful participate in the Church’s mission; laity have priestly, prophetic, and royal offices; their apostolate transforms the temporal order through the Gospel; all activity directed to evangelization and sanctification.
The laity’s mission is to witness to Christ in everyday life, transforming society with a Gospel-infused presence (AA 2).
The call to holiness is communal—Baptism obliges us to seek perfection not only for ourselves but for others as well; our evangelizing witness helps draw others to Christ.

The Mark of a Disciple and the discernment of vocation

The Marks of a Disciple (as presented in the chapter):
- Conform oneself to Christ in word and deed; emulate Christ’s life and actions as a model for life.
- Seek the Father’s will in all things; discern through prayer, regular reception of the Eucharist and Penance, and guidance from the Church; sanctity involves uniting our will with God’s will.
- A confessor or spiritual director can aid the journey to holiness.
The question: is it enough to live a good life without keeping all commandments? The text argues that Jesus did not abolish the commandments; living them is an expression of love for God and neighbor; holiness involves loving obedience, not merely external observance.
The role of suffering: uniting our sufferings with Christ’s suffering gives redemptive value and meaning to our crosses.

Evangelization and personal holiness

Evangelization is not only for missionaries; it is a daily mission that begins with personal holiness and life as witness.
Everyday evangelization starts with our circles: family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, classmates.
The impact of a holy life can influence society as people witness living faith, charity, and joy rooted in God’s will.
The famous maxim: "Preach always; if necessary, use words" (St. Francis of Assisi) summarized in the chapter as guidance for practical evangelization.

The gift of grace and the Sacraments

The Gift of Grace:
- Baptism gives grace, a share in the divine life; grace is the seed of sanctity, to be nurtured through a life of holiness and service to God and neighbor.
- Grace is described as participation in the life of God; it introduces us into the Trinitarian life; through Baptism we participate in the grace of Christ, become adopted children, and receive the life of the Holy Spirit who makes us holy and forms the Church. (CCC 1997)
- Sanctifying grace heals human nature, gives a share in divine life, and enables continual growth in wisdom and freedom; faith, hope, and charity form the theological virtues received in Baptism and deepen our union with Christ.
The yeast/leaven metaphor (bread): our life witness to Christ acts like yeast transforming the dough; unseen influence that grows to affect others. The growth is aided by the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
The Sacraments: essential channels of grace; all Seven Sacraments are sources of abundant graces; the path to holiness goes through initiation and ongoing participation in the Sacraments.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
The Gospels are the Good News: the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) present the life, ministry, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus; the authors are inspired by the Holy Spirit; God is the true author of Scripture and guides human authors without error.
We cannot give what we do not possess: personal holiness is a prerequisite to effectively evangelize and lead others to Christ.
The role of the Sacraments in human growth: the Sacraments help us receive and respond to grace, fostering a life of faith and charity.

The Gospels, prayer, and knowing God intimately

The Gospels are the Good News; each Gospel offers a unique perspective to read the life of Jesus Christ.
Knowing God intimately:
- Knowing about God is not the same as intimate knowledge of God.
- Intimate knowledge requires prayer, a daily spiritual life, and frequent reception of the Sacraments (Eucharist and Penance).
- Intimacy with Christ means aligning our hearts, minds, and will with Christ.

Supplementary Reading: St. Josemaria Escriva and ordinary sanctity

St. Josemaria Escriva (1902–1975): Feast day June 26; canonized October 6, 2002.
Life and mission: Born in Barbastro, Spain; from early on, a devout Catholic family and a strong emphasis on serving God.
Discerned a vocation to priesthood; founded Opus Dei (The Work of God) to help lay people understand that ordinary daily life can be sanctified.
Escriva emphasized that sanctity is achievable in ordinary life through a personal apostolate, cheerful persistence, sanctifying one’s work and daily activities, and making ordinary life a form of continuous prayer to God.

Practical elements and study aids

Evangelization vocabulary (key terms):
- APOSTOLATE / EVANGELIZATION: the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel; personal witness and communal efforts.
- CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: a summary of Catholic teaching (latest edition referenced 1997).
- DISCIPLE / DISCIPLESHIP: following Christ with a commitment to holiness and doing God’s will.
- ECUMENICAL COUNCIL: formal synod of bishops to define doctrine and discipline; convened by the Pope.
- EVANGELIST / EVANGELIZATION / GOSPEL: spreaders of the Good News.
- GRACE / HOLINESS / SANCTITY: gift of God’s life in us; spiritual perfection; union with God.
- LEAVEN (YEAST): metaphor for the subtle, transformative influence of holiness.
- MARTYR / MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST / PEOPLE OF GOD: concepts of witness, unity in Christ, and Church community.
- PERFECTION / PILGRIMAGE / PILGRIM CHURCH: the lifelong journey toward God and the Church on earth as a pilgrim people.
- SACRAMENT / SAINT / SANCTIFYING GRACE / STATE OF GRACE / THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES: definitions and roles in sanctification.
- UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS / VOCATION: every baptized person called to holiness; lay, priestly, and religious vocations as paths to holiness.
Key scriptural references cited throughout (format in this notes uses inline references):
- $Mt 5:48$ , $Mt 19:21$ , $Mt 5:17$ , $Jn 17:14$ , $Jn 15:5$ , $Mt 28:20$ , $Acts 7:58$ , $Acts 9:4-5$ , $Rom 12:13; Rom 16:15; 2 Cor 1:1; Eph 4:12$ , $Gal 5:25;$ Phil 2:1, 5 $,$ Eph 4:16 $,$ 1 Cor 6:19, and others as noted in CCC/LG references.
Notable doctrinal references from the chapter:
- LG 40 (Second Vatican Council) on the universal call to holiness;
- LG 41 on the Church’s sanctity as real but imperfect on earth;
- CCC references: 1 (creation and invitation), 825 (universal call to holiness), 826 (charity as the soul of holiness), 1997 (definition of grace), 2842 (internal participation in Christ’s life), 2053 (Christ’s invitation to perfection), 2842 (inner transformation by the Spirit).
Study and reflection prompts included in the chapter:
- Study questions (e.g., definition of holiness, the Mystical Body, the five marks of a disciple, and the role of grace).
- Practical exercises (e.g., writing on personal holiness, studying saints of the last century, reflecting on crosses, finding a spiritual director).
- Catechetical notes on grace, sanctifying grace, and the role of the Sacraments in sanctification.
Supplementary reading (St. Josemaria Escriva) highlights:
- Ordinary life as a path to sanctity;
- Personal apostolate and sanctifying daily work;
- Transforming everyday life into continuous prayer.

Key quotations (for quick recall)

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Mt 5:48.
“Grace is a participation in the life of God, introduced into the life of the Trinity through Baptism” CCC 1997$$.
“Charity is the soul of holiness” (CCC 826).
“The Church on earth is endowed already with a sanctity that is real though imperfect” (LG 40; LG 41).
“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (LG 40; LG 40 § 2).
“Preach always; if necessary, use words.” (St. Francis of Assisi, cited in the practical exhortation about evangelization)

Connections to broader themes

The universal call to holiness ties into the Church’s teaching across Vatican II: holiness is for all states of life, not just clergy or religious.
The Mystical Body of Christ reinforces the interdependence of all members; every layperson contributes to the Church’s mission through everyday actions.
The role of grace and the Sacraments forms the backbone of personal sanctity and communal church life; grace enables cooperation with God’s will and fosters growth in virtue.
The emphasis on ordinary sanctity (Josemaria Escriva) complements the classical model of heroic saints by showing sanctity in daily life, work, and ordinary duties.

Study questions (summary prompts)

Define the universal call to holiness and explain its significance for all states of life.
How is a saint understood in both a narrow and broad sense?
Explain grace and its role in sanctification; how is baptism related to grace?
What are the five marks of a disciple of Christ? (and how do they manifest in daily life?)
Why is evangelization important beyond missionary contexts?
Distinguish between knowing about God and knowing God intimately; what practices foster intimate knowledge of God?
How do the Sacraments contribute to our path to holiness?
What is the role of suffering and cross-bearing in holiness?
Summarize St. Josemaria Escriva’s approach to sanctity in ordinary life.

Supplementary vocabulary (concepts to memorize)

APOSTOLATE / EVANGELIZATION: the Church’s mission to extend the reign of Christ to the entire world.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: a concise summary of Catholic teaching (latest major edition 1997).
DISCIPLE / DISCIPLESHIP: following Christ and pursuing holiness.
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL: binding ecclesial authority convened by the Pope to define doctrine.
EVANGELIST / EVANGELIZATION / GOSPEL: proclamation of the Good News; spreading the Gospel.
GRACE / SANCTIFYING GRACE / THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES: God’s life infused in the soul; faith, hope, charity.
HOLINESS / SANCTITY: spiritual perfection and union with God; lifestyle of virtue.
LEAVEN (YEAST): metaphor for subtle transformative influence of holiness.
MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST / PEOPLE OF GOD: theological concepts of church unity and mission.
PERFECTION / PILGRIMAGE / PILGRIM CHURCH: journey toward holiness and heaven.
SACRAMENT: efficacious sign of grace; seven sacraments in the Catholic Church.
SAINT: a holy person recognized by the Church; canonical sainthood.
STATE OF GRACE / STATE OF LIFE: spiritual condition and vocational life (clergy, laity, married, single, religious).
WITNESS / MARTYR: giving life for the faith; witnessing to Christ.
UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS / VOCATION: God’s invitation to holiness for everyone; differing vocations.

Supplementary Reading: St. Josemaria Escriva (summary)

Born 1902 in Barbastro, Spain; priesthood; founder of Opus Dei.
Emphasized sanctifying ordinary life and personal apostolate, encouraging lay people to pursue sanctity through daily work and family life.
Charity and cheerful service as central to sanctity; sanctification is available to all through daily acts done for God’s glory.