pure holiness
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8, RSV-CE
Saints see God, for they are pure in heart. They are pure as Jesus is pure (1 Jn 3:3). “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rv 7:14). “They are pure and follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rv 14:4). Saints have been refined “like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord” (Mal 3:3). “By obedience to the truth,” saints “have purified” themselves “for a genuine love” of their brothers and sisters (1 Pt 1:22). Jesus has opened “a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness” (Zec 13:1).
Therefore, “let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and in the fear of God strive to fulfill our consecration perfectly” (2 Cor 7:1). Let us purify ourselves completely as soon as possible. Let us finish our purgatory before death and in the near future. This will please the Lord and make us more holy, free, and joyful. The more purified we are in our holiness, the deeper is our love for others and the greater is our service to them.
What the world needs now is what it has always needed — great saints. “Holy men and women have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult circumstances throughout the Church’s history. Today we have a tremendous need of saints, for whom we must assiduously implore God” (Consecrated Life, Pope St. John Paul II, 35). Be pure to be holy.
Prayer: Father, make me holy as soon as possible — whatever it takes.
Promise: “Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” —Ps 24:3-4
Praise: The Church’s greatest saints were made of flesh and blood, just like us. How will we imitate them in serving the risen Jesus?
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Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 3, 2022
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.