Saints Light
Grace and Virtue · Lesson 10 of 10

Holiness for Ordinary People

Every Christian, not just priests and religious, is called to be holy, which means growing in love through union with Christ. For most of us that happens in ordinary life, offered to God.

This is a summary of Lesson 10 of Grace, Virtue and Sin. The full lesson takes about 3 minutes in the Saints Light app.

The Good Shepherd, a painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo
The Good Shepherd, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c. 1660

What this lesson teaches

  • Vatican II taught that every Christian, in every walk of life, is called to holiness (Lumen Gentium 40).
  • Holiness is union with Christ and the perfection of charity, not unusual experiences.
  • Most people become holy through ordinary work, family and relationships offered to God.
  • Holiness passes through the Cross, but grace makes it possible and leads to joy.

Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites

  • CCC 2012-2016
  • CCC 2013

CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.

Scripture read in this lesson: Matthew 5:48; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Colossians 3:23.

A sample question from this lesson

According to Lumen Gentium 40, who is called to holiness?

  1. Only priests and religious
  2. Only those who have had mystical experiences
  3. Only canonized saints
  4. All Christians, in every state and walk of life
Show the answer

All Christians, in every state and walk of life. The Council taught that all the faithful are called to the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity (Lumen Gentium 40; CCC 2013).

The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.

Words to know

Universal call to holiness
The teaching that every baptized person is called to the fullness of Christian life and perfect charity.
Sanctification
The process of being made holy by God's grace.

More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.

Read the full lesson in the app

"Holiness for Ordinary People" is lesson 10 of Grace, Virtue and Sin. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.

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