Universal Call to Holiness?

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rachael_maria

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I had a really interesting conversation with a self-defined “tradionalist.” This person did not really believe in a universal call to holiness…really just that only priests and religious are called to the heights of sanctity. (Not that he was saying that lay people should just outright sin all the time, but really that they can’t aspire to be as holy as say a priest or religious.) He more or less thinks that the idea of a universal call to holiness is a fabrication of VII. Is this a common thought among traditional catholics or was this just one person’s opinion?
 
That’s bizarre. No, I think it’s just him. I think most Traditional Catholics would agree that everyone should strive to be as holy as possible.
 
From the Catechism:

**2013 **“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” All are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.
 
He more or less thinks that the idea of a universal call to holiness is a fabrication of VII.
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He missed this in Scripture:

“Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” Matthew 5:48.
 
Although I think the Lord has been teaching me that we ought to be careful what methods we use to achieve said holiness. Personally, I’ve been trying too hard to emulate the religious and, by misinterpreting their examples, have caused undue complications in my life as a member of the laity. We ought to make sure to understand that our state in life has been decided by God (laity no less than those with a vocation) and that we ought to tailor our approach accordingly. i.e. Religious ascetics may sell all their belongings and only eat small amounts of bland foods, but that doesn’t mean the laity should feel guilty for having a steak. There’s the principles, and then there’s how they’re applied. Laity should more-so focus on getting their priorities straight than trying to practice asceticism. Not to say that penances should never be taken up, but they must be used as tools toward a purpose instead of feeling like we’re only as holy as the amount of fasting we do. I believe what I speak of is the reason why many in the Byzantine and Orthodox churches will warn newbies off from the Philokalia. Some of us go way too far and wreck ourselves.
 
Such heights of sanctity are available to and demanded of all the baptised. Sanctity is the full flowering of the baptismal seed, which is the beginning of eternal life. The marvellous Thomist Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange O.P. explains this excellently in his work called ‘Christian Perfection and Contemplation’.
 
I can’t figure out which it is. Either people with a tendency towards imbalance are attracted to traditionalism, or traditionalism messes with people’s minds. Maybe both. There is something unhealthy going on.

I think we should “err” on the side of the Church Magisterium, and the example of other people. Like, say, St. Francis.
 
rachael_maria said:
I had a really interesting conversation with a self-defined “tradionalist.” This person did not really believe in a universal call to holiness…really just that only priests and religious are called to the heights of sanctity. (Not that he was saying that lay people should just outright sin all the time, but really that they can’t aspire to be as holy as say a priest or religious.) He more or less thinks that the idea of a universal call to holiness is a fabrication of VII. Is this a common thought among traditional catholics or was this just one person’s opinion?
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tHERE are stubborn people…
 
Which part of Christ’s Body is not holy? Since we comprise His mystical Body on earth, how can we remain a part of it if we do not strive for holiness? We are then a cancer in His Body and will be excised from it.
 
rachael_maria said:
I had a really interesting conversation with a self-defined “tradionalist.” This person did not really believe in a universal call to holiness…really just that only priests and religious are called to the heights of sanctity. (Not that he was saying that lay people should just outright sin all the time, but really that they can’t aspire to be as holy as say a priest or religious.) He more or less thinks that the idea of a universal call to holiness is a fabrication of VII. Is this a common thought among traditional catholics or was this just one person’s opinion?
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Well, the problem might be just a matter of interpretation. Many people believe that all vocations are equal. That belief became very popular after Vatican II It is not true. The religious calling, be it Priest, Brother, Sister, Nun, Deacon is an objectively higher calling and requires sacrifices and commitment that most of us would not and probably could not make… It doesn’t mean that the Religious are better than we are, ,just that they are called in another direction’ with different standards that they have to meet. Everyone should strive to live as holy a life as possible within the framework of their lives.

We were taught years ago that the Church had a hierarchy, starting with the Pope and working down to the laity and that we approached God in that manner. That may have been what he was referring to.
 
I look to St Catherine if I ever get it into my head that the laity are not called to be holy.
Mike30 said:
We were taught years ago that the Church had a hierarchy, starting with the Pope and working down to the laity** and that we approached God in that manner.** That may have been what he was referring to.
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Can you explain what the part I bolded means?
 
Mike30 said:
Well, the problem might be just a matter of interpretation. Many people believe that all vocations are equal. That belief became very popular after Vatican II It is not true. The religious calling, be it Priest, Brother, Sister, Nun, Deacon is an objectively higher calling and requires sacrifices and commitment that most of us would not and probably could not make… It doesn’t mean that the Religious are better than we are, ,just that they are called in another direction’ with different standards that they have to meet. Everyone should strive to live as holy a life as possible within the framework of their lives.

We were taught years ago that the Church had a hierarchy, starting with the Pope and working down to the laity and that we approached God in that manner. That may have been what he was referring to.
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I agree with this 🙂
 
TrueLight said:
Okay, so what does the part below mean to you, JMJ?
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I’m not entirely sure, but I suspect the poster is trying to emphasise the hierarchical nature of the Church. I also endorse the fact that certain states of life are objectively superior to others, clerical life and religious life is objectively superior to lay life, religious life is superior to ‘secular’ clerical life e.g secular priests etc… and the episcopate is like religious life superior to ‘secular’ clerical life. Those in ‘superior’ states of life, will by and large be holier than those in ‘inferior’ states of life, there are of course exceptions, indeed many exceptions but the rule remains.

This follows from the very nature of clerical and religious life, clerics by their very nature are given particular graces that lay people are not, they are ordained, they administer the sacraments etc… and they will have a very different prayer life, consisting of reciting the breviary and generally a considerable amount of mental prayer every day. Religious, have united themselves to Christ through their vows and are thus given unique and special graces and likewise have a very different prayer life and bishops in taking responsibility for their flock and due to their consecration also have unique and special graces. More fundamentally clerics and more so religious have fled the world to seek God alone in a way that lay people cannot do. We also cannot forget the De Fide teaching of the church that the unmarried state, that is the state of Virginity is a superior state to that of marriage and thus all those including laymen who vow celibacy and maintain it are in a superior state to those who are married.

None of this undermines the fact that yes all are called to be holy and to live their lives for Christ, however whether all are called to equal levels of holiness is an entirely different matter altogether. Clearly not everyone is called to be a St Francis of Assisi or a St Ignatius of Loyola, not all of us are given the graces to be such extraordinary saints, we cannot ‘storm heaven’ or force him to make us something we are not called to be. Each one of us must follow Gods plan for our life as best we can knowing that in doing so we will give the most glory to God, save our souls and merit the greatest glory we can have in the next.
 
I have been most edified by the recent canonizations within the Church, for this emphacizes the truth that those in states of life other than religious can and do attain to sainthood. Two that come to mind are the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Gianna Molla. Tears of joy flowed when I saw her own husband and the child for which she gave her life attend the canonization. I still get goosebumps thinking about this ecstatic moment for her family.

Let’s remember the Little Way of St. Therese, highlighted for all of us when the Church proclaimed her a saint. Hidden, and doing the smallest of deeds solely for love of God, is a sure way to holiness, she taught. Mother Teresa taught the same principle by her words and her life. It is not beyond any of us. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all caught that fire of love? We just don’t value ourselves sufficiently, it seems, thinking we are mere seculars. To him who has, more will be given. Let’s just practice doing the “has” with all our hearts. 🙂
 
jmj1984 said:
Those in ‘superior’ states of life, will by and large be holier than those in ‘inferior’ states of life
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I see what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I completely agree with everything.
they will have a very different prayer life, consisting of reciting the breviary and generally a considerable amount of mental prayer every day
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There are lay people who do that even with their secular responsibilities. Plus one can just go through the motions.
Religious, have united themselves to Christ through their vows and are thus given unique and special graces
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I agree with this.
We also cannot forget the De Fide teaching of the church that the unmarried state, that is the state of Virginity is a superior state to that of marriage and thus all those including laymen who vow celibacy and maintain it are in a superior state to those who are married.
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Is this from the writings of Saint Paul?

I know through reading St Teresa and St Faustina’s books that all is not alway dandy in Religious life. You have people who have the same types of faults as you have in secular life: lack of charity, meanness, jealousy, etc. Then you have those Priests and Religious who are trying to live daily lives daily.

I don’t believe one can say that if you put a Priest or Secular person side by side, you can automatically say one is holier than the other.

Although I do believe to be a Priest or Religious is a high and unique calling indeed. What matters though is what you do with it.

Just as a lay, married person can live a humble life full of prayer, depending on God for everything.
 
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