Trinity Sunday

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
16th June 2019

Holiness and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
by Rev. Fr. Peter J. Arnoudt S.J.

Holiness is the completion of virtue, the guardian of sanctifying grace, the preserver of inward peace, the nurse of the heart's joy, and of ever enduring happiness. Holiness is true wisdom, real glory, inexhaustible wealth. To be the least of the Saints is something incomparably greater than to be the greatest of the whole material world.

What is there in this world that can justly be compared with holiness? not science, not dignity, not renown, not the possession of all riches. For all these things are only of Earth, they last but for a moment; like vapours in the air, they glisten and soon disappear. But holiness is heaven-born and permanent, it glitters before the inhabitants of Heaven like the sun; yea, when the sun fades away, it shall continue to shine for evermore.

If you have sinned during your life, behold! this is a new reason why you should sanctify yourself, that thus, by the future, you may make amends for the past. There is no question of what you have been, but of what you ought to be hereafter. How many souls there are, that after having committed sins, have reached, in a shorter time, a higher degree of perfection than others that have ever remained innocent! And this, because they used the remembrance of the sins which they had unfortunately committed, and which had been most mercifully forgiven. The sins that have been committed are, therefore, not only no hindrances, but, if you are willing, may be instruments of holiness. To aspire to sanctity, is not pride nor presumption, but nobleness of soul.

A constant desire of making progress, a continual striving after holiness, is rightly thought to constitute man's sanctity in this life. None is perfect in holiness, who does not exert himself to become more perfect: and the more one aims at greater perfection, the more holy does he prove himself to be. The perfection of holiness is not the work of a day or a week. Do not, then, imagine that you shall be perfect in so short a time. For, by expecting this, and finding yourself afterward disappointed, you might lose heart, or even be dangerously tempted to desist from further attempts. Perfection is the joint work of Divine grace and man's cooperation.

If you have a constant and effectual will of sanctifying yourself, naught can hinder you from becoming a Saint. Whatever may be your natural inclination, you will acquire holiness, not by the disposition of your character, but by the cooperation with grace through your free will. Neither your character, nor your state of life, nor your employment, will hinder you, if, with a generous fidelity of heart, you cooperate with Divine grace.

Neither, in fine, can temptations and difficulties present an obstacle. For, whatsoever Hell can contrive, whatsoever the world may attempt against you, all this, if you are willing, shall be made to contribute to your sanctification.