Dear Monica,
How very heartening it is to hear from a young Catholic who feels so deeply the call to pursue holiness. Good for you! Not enough Catholic young people are, I fear, in this age of dissipation heeding the Gospel call to sanctity and separation from the world. The writer to the Hebrews exhorts us to strive “for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12: 14). Now a vital part of holiness is separation from the godless and brash world around us - “Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord” (II Cor. 6: 17). In your own case this may or may not entail the summons to the religious life, that is clearly something that you yourself must determine following much careful, prayerful thought and serious discussion with your parish priest. Be that as it may, we are all of us called to sanctity and separation and to feel such a call, as you quite evidently do, is one of the grand indications of a work of grace in the heart. So Monica keep on keeping on striving to be pure and holy and allow no fear of being thought of as singular or unpopular deter you. Our Church desperately needs devout people like yourelf in these days of Laodicean compromise with the world (see Apoc. 3: 14-22).
Unfortunately, there is a widespread desire within the Church to make things pleasant in religion and to avoid anything that even whiffs of self-denial or sacrifice. Thus there are many vociferously declaring that we must not be too prissy or overscrupulous and that there is no harm in indulging in all manner of worldly amusements; we may plunge into almost anything that appeals to our senses without incurring any spiritual loss. Now all this is wholly at variance with the teaching of Sacred Scripture and the lives of the saints. Those who talk in this manner have apparently forgotten that the whole course of this life is a state of probation and that we are admonished by St. Paul to “work out our own salvation with* fear* and trembling”. Entering into the life everlasting is an arduous business involving keeping short accounts with God, prayer, self-denial and a taking up of the cross daily. It may also involve, especially among your age group, being branded a “Puritan prude”, a “joyless prigg” and probably many other abusive and uncharitable epithets, but please do not be discouraged, Jesus and our Lady will comfort and sustain you so that you will be able to stand firm in the face of any hostility.
The fact that we are God’s children and redeemed by His beloved Son should really have a profound impact upon our priorities and the way we live each day. Even an immoderate use of that which is not in itself sinful can become a great hindrance to us; we must rid ourselves of all that would retard us in the life of faith. All that does not help has a tendency to hinder. Thus we should be renouncing “irreligion and worldly passions” and living sober, “upright and godly lives in this world” (Titus 2: 12). However, all too many Catholics nowadays, young and old alike, are quite satisfied with a hand in hand with the world type of religion that makes no real demands and that allows one to remain devoted to salacious TV programmes and films, unwholesome novels with questionable content and rock and pop music with its occultic and heavy sexual overtones. This is nothing more than “Catholicism Lite”, to use George Weigel’s amusing turn of phrase, and is utterly contrary to St. Paul’s exhortation: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12: 2).
Alas, so many Catholics are hardly distinguishable from their pagan neighbours nowadays, except for the fact that they fulfill their Sunday obligation (though by their want of elagant attire one could be forgiven for thinking that they were attending a car boot sale and not Holy Mass!). Standards have declined everywhere and we content oursevles with a worldly lukewarm style of religion that is thoroughly nauseating both to our Lord and, to some extent, the ungodly because they quite rightly expect better from us. Far too many Catholics are like the Laodicean’s over in the Apocalypse; tepid, flabby, half-hearted, limp, always ready to compromise, indifferent; such straddlers are a disgrace to our most holy Faith and ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Monica, I will remember you before the throne of heavenly grace in my prayers. May God make clear to you in the coming days His will for your life and may He fill your heart with love for Jesus and our lady. May you also become increasingly more holy and finally obtain the crown of life which He has promised to those that truly love Him.
Warmest good wishes and prayers,
Portrait
I agree we should strive to live as the Saints did… even though it’s difficult and sometimes I feel very weak and unable to live this type of life, but God can give us the grace we need and transform us into saints if we cooperate with Him.
