All Christians in every walk of life are called to the perfection of love and to one and the same holiness: “Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love…In the various types and duties of life, one and the same is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God” (LG).
This does not mean that all members of the Church are called to the same degree of holiness-individuals differ in their gifts and response to grace-but all are called to the same kind of holiness. There is not a higher holiness reserved for priests and religious and an inferior kind reserved for housewives and farm laborers. All are called to essentially the same kind of holiness. Mary, The Mother of God, achieved the greatest holiness of any mere creature, but she was not a religious. The degree of holiness attained by each person depends on the gift of God’s grace and the cooperation of each one with that grace, whether one by a lay person, a cleric, or religious.
The evangelical counsels are so called because they are based on the teaching and example of Christ and the apostles. Therefore, if we want to attain holiness, we must embrace them. They are found in the gospels and other New Testament writings:
Poverty:
Jesus counseled a rich young man who was seeking perfection to embrace a life of poverty: “If you will be perfect, go sell all you have and give to the poor and come follow me” (Mt 19. 16-22). He surprised His disciples by His stern warning about the danger of riches, and promised manifold blessings to those who give up all things to follow Him (Mt. 19. 20-29).
By His own life Jesus shows by example what it means to live a poor life: he was born in a stable, had no place to lay His head, was stripped at His death, and was buried in another’s tomb.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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