How to be Holy
Discover how to live a life of holiness and become a saint.
We are all called to holiness. Our life here on earth is one in which we are meant to grow in holiness, become saints and offer to the Church and the world an example of faithful Christian living.
If we’re to become saints, we should remember that the saints are no different from us. There are some of them who, from their earliest years, received extraordinary graces, visions and mystical gifts, but even these were not excluded from the temptations and difficulties of human life. In fact, often these challenges were greater for them.
Most of the saints had to inch their way through life, leaning on the gospel and sustained, often in the darkness of faith, by what God in his providence provided. They faced the same joys and sorrows as we do, but they rose to the challenge, drank deeply of the cup of sustenance God offered, and moved forward. Each of them opened their hearts and lives to the Holy Spirit and allowed him give them his gifts and his fruits. The same is to be said for us.
So how do we follow in the footsteps of the saints?
We can’t make ourselves holy, only God can do that. What we can do is work with God through prayer and try to live our faith well.
Books for future saints
Below, we have outlined books that act as guidebooks on Christian living. These are not the only books needed to become saints, and we recommend that at the very least they go hand in hand with frequent prayer, learning about the faith, reading Scripture, and of course receiving the sacraments frequently. Yet what these books can do for you is help you with practical suggestions and inspiration on how to live.
Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history. (Lumen Gentium 40)
Stay Close to God When Life Gets Tough
Life is never without its difficulties and Jesus Himself encouraged us to carry our cross. Yet all the same, the search for God inevitably becomes even harder during those times. Learning how to stay close to God when life gets tough is an essential part of the journey towards sainthood.
Live According to the Fruits of the Holy Spirit
This series of booklets is concerned with the battle for holiness in contemporary life, exploring the fruits of the Spirit, and drawing modern Christians’ attention to the reality of grace, its powerful work and the fact that Christ’s victory can be proclaimed in the soul even now in our earthly lives.
Knowing Who God Calls You to Be
To live a life of holiness, we need to know who God created us to be. It's about discovering who we are to God, what we mean to Him, and how that impacts our lives.
Sharing the Love of God
To live a life of holiness is to grow deeper in love for the Lord, and as we do so we find that we want everyone to know this great source of joy and meaning. The saints didn't focus only on their own holiness, but on helping others become holy too.
Growing Up Catholic
The universal call to holiness is just that - universal. That means it applies to all of us, no matter our age. So what does holiness look like for young adults and teens? These books serve as guides particularly to the young, though the not-so-young may also find an abundance of inspiration here too!