Being holy "for others"

[CHCatholic]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong? Part of me thinks we ought to strive for holiness for God, and for no one else, and your priorities are in the wrong spot, but another part of me thinks holiness is Godly and that person is just leading you to it.
Thoughts?

 

[AveSantaMaria]

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.

It’s best to be holy for the pure love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but if that is not enough motivation, I believe that other motivations can substitute until it is. For example, to the best of my horribly imperfect knowledge, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received the apparitions/revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that were complied + comments of her confessor in this book: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus en.wikisource.org/wiki/Devotion_to_the_Sacred_Heart_of_Jesus#FIRST_POINT._.E2.80.94_The_ardent_desire_Jesus_Christ_feels_to_be_with_us.
first decided to become consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in return for healing of an illness. I think something similiar happened with St. Therese of Liseux as well but I may be very very wrong. The only problem is - what if your external motivation disappears - will you continue to persevere or will you give up?? I do not really know the answer to your question but I would venture a guess that it depends on how one becomes more “holy.” If one becomes more holy by purely service, that may disappear. If one becomes more holy by the Rosary, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Eucharist in addition to other services to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary such as service, that may prove to be more long lasting or to have deep spiritual benefits that do not disappear just because one’s service stops.

Free information on almost all I know on devoting oneself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
Pereptual online Adoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus louisville-catholic.net/WebCameras/AdorationChapel/tabid/825/Default.aspx
True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin montfort.org.uk/Writings/TrueDev.html
**Secret of the Rosary ** montfort.org.uk/Writings/Rosary.html
Preparation for 33 day consecration to the Blessed Virgin saintlouisdemontfort.com/consecration.cfm
Reflections on True Devotion to Mary by His Holiness Pope John Paul II http://www.michaeljournal.org/montfort.htm
**The Glories of Mary, ** by St. Alphonsus de Liguori, one of the 33 Doctors of the Catholic Church, explains Hail Holy Queen http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/glories.htm
On the Dolors of Mary by St. Alphonsus de Liguori, one of the 33 Doctors of the Catholic Church, explains the sufferings of Our Lady http://writer.zoho.com/public/immaculate/Seven-dolors
Marialis Cultus (Apostolic Exhortation for the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary of His Holiness, February 2, 1974 by His Holiness Pope Paul VI ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P6MARIAL.HTM
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus en.wikisource.org/wiki/Devotion_to_the_Sacred_Heart_of_Jesus#FIRST_POINT._.E2.80.94_The_ardent_desire_Jesus_Christ_feels_to_be_with_us.
Divine Mercy Chaplet ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm
Cathechism of the Catholic Church vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm

Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong? Part of me thinks we ought to strive for holiness for God, and for no one else, and your priorities are in the wrong spot, but another part of me thinks holiness is Godly and that person is just leading you to it.
Thoughts?

Undoubtedly anything at all that will keep us from sin is good; and since all good comes from God, it is a gift to be thankful for that something has kept one from sin and something that is another good and that is concern for another. It may not be the most perfect according to some classical texts, but it is a great gift to be thankful for I think. When The Lord sees that we are grateful for what He does give us, for His Gifts and that we treasure them, undoubtedly we will be further enriched as He may Will.
I think that other people can be a great support in many ways indeed in keeping us on the ‘straight and narrow’ - it is one of the blessings of “community” and is a great gift.

It is rather like receiving a present or gift and being not exactly totally delighted about it because it is not a top shelf brand, to be not grateful and at peace with where we are on our spiritual journey.

The only thing that can separate us from God is sin and hence He has gifted us with the Confessional. Only sin can impede the work of God’s Holy Spirit in us and in our lives. Sometimes we can be really trying and struggling and trying lovingly to reach some spiritual goal for the love of God. Thomas Merton said that our desire and effort alone is pleasing to God. Success always is in God’s Hands alone. I dont think we should ever be trying with such self involvement and investment as to loose Peace. “Seek Peace and pursue it”
Psalm 33

6

Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded. 7 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles. 8 The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them. 9 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him. 10 Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
2 I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth. 3 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice. 4 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together. *

5

• I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.
  11 The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. 12 Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 13 Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days? 14 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 15

Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it.

16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers. 17 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 18 The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles. *

19

• The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit. 20 Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

We are not the origin of good be it most great, or most miniscule…good always and at all times has its origin in God - hence anything good in us is the work of The Holy Spirit and pure gift.\

Abandonment to Divine Providence:

It would be 13a foolish and frivolous curiosity to try to discover which is the most holy. Each has to follow the appointed path. Perfection consists in submitting unreservedly to the designs of God, and in fulfilling the duties of one’s state in the most perfect manner possible. To compare the different states as they are in themselves can do nothing to improve us, since it is neither in the amount of work, nor in the sort of duties given to us that perfection is to be found.
However, to decide the question in some way, I think that holiness can be measured by the love one has for God, and the desire to please Him, and that the more His will is the guiding principle, and His plans conformed to and loved, the greater will be the holiness, no matter what may be the means made use of. It is this that we notice in Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In their separate lives there is more of love than of greatness, and more of the spirit than of the matter. It is not written that they sought holiness in things themselves, but only in the motive with which they used them.

It must therefore be concluded that one way is not more perfect than another,

but that the most perfect is that which is most closely in conformity with the order established by God, whether by the accomplishment of exterior duties, or by interior dispositions.

 

[water]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong?

I don’t think you are doing anything wrong but that is very beautiful that you think of others. It is very difficult to love others and very easy to say “I love God”. God knows your good heart and He is continuing to nourish your heart with His Love and will eventually bring you to love Him truly. – accept where you are, what you are and what your heart is capable of and continue to strive to be a saint through accepting God’s grace. It is a battle with Satan for doing this but God is on your side.

 

[feargalmac]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong? Part of me thinks we ought to strive for holiness for God, and for no one else, and your priorities are in the wrong spot, but another part of me thinks holiness is Godly and that person is just leading you to it.
Thoughts?

I think that Sundays Gospel put it simply. “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

 

[KingAlfred]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong? Part of me thinks we ought to strive for holiness for God, and for no one else, and your priorities are in the wrong spot, but another part of me thinks holiness is Godly and that person is just leading you to it.
Thoughts?

It’s the whole package. It’s a major psychological framework. When you consider the impact of your sins on others, you’re doing the right thing. *Of course *we must do that, as part of our not wanting to offend God. Our reflection on the effects of our sins on others is guided by God’s voice within us, leading us back to the Truth, and convincing us to cling to it. Our conscience is always talking to us, and it’s always the voice of God within.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I’m wondering how much motivation plays a part in trying to grow in holiness. Take for example the following: Lets say I have the urge to do something sinful, but I say, “No I can’t, my wife/girlfriend/friend doesn’t deserve me when I’m doing something like that, so I’m not going to”
Is that wrong? Part of me thinks we ought to strive for holiness for God, and for no one else, and your priorities are in the wrong spot, but another part of me thinks holiness is Godly and that person is just leading you to it.
Thoughts?

Well, try to think of it this way. If you look for Jesus Christ… IN other people in your life… than it makes sense to want to be virtuous because of (or for) them. Right?

“Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

More often than we will ever realize… I think… Our Good Lord places specific people in our lives… to help us on the road to sainthood. I once heard it said… that other people in our lives, are mirrors into our own souls, because they help us to see where we need to improve.

Did that make any sense? lol. Hope so. God bless you.