Michael Brooks
Perfection, in a Catholic context, is a spiritual union with God that can be achieved in this life. It is a state of holiness and sanctification, where one is immersed in God's grace and surrenders to His will. This path to perfection is often described as a journey, guided by Mary, leading one to a full sharing in the mystery of Christ and, through Him, to the Trinity. It involves the practice of virtues, such as faith, hope, and charity, and overcoming vices such as sloth, envy, and discord. The ultimate goal is to strive for sainthood and to live each moment in accordance with God's will, achieving spiritual advancement and union with the Divine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Love | Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength |
| Love your enemies | |
| Love is the path to perfection | |
| Charity | Charity is the habit of sanctifying grace |
| Charity is the pursuit or practice of service to God | |
| Charity is the path to perfection | |
| Holiness | Holiness is incomplete without perfection |
| Holiness is a path to sainthood | |
| Purity of conscience | Purity of heart |
| Restoration of innocence | |
| Prayer | Deepen one's prayer life |
| Suffering | Suffering can lead to virtue |
| Virtues | Faith, hope and moral virtues |
| Sainthood | Sainthood is the goal |
| Mary | Mary guides the soul to Christ |
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What You'll Learn
Loving your enemies
Jesus asks his followers to love their enemies, not just those who mildly inconvenience them, but those who wish them harm and would not hesitate to cause them harm. This is a form of perfect love, or 'charity' in Latin and 'agape' in Greek. It is a love that is not self-serving and does not seek its own benefit, even at the risk of self-harm.
Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of someone who practised enemy love. In a 1957 sermon, he said, "When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it". Learning to love our enemies means freeing ourselves from the addictive desire to always win.
Loving one's enemies is a challenging commandment, and it may be impossible without supernatural grace. However, it is a key part of the path to Christian perfection.
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Developing purity of conscience
Purity of conscience is akin to the beatitude of purity of heart. This involves a restoration of innocence, or childlike faith, as described in the scriptures. It is a necessary step for spiritual advancement, as it involves an initial rejection of sin and temptation.
To form a moral conscience, one must pay careful attention to the teachings of the Church. Catholics are guided by the sacred teaching authority of the pope and the bishops, who speak in the name of Christ. The faithful must also seek to understand the principles of morality and how to apply them in specific circumstances. This is achieved by informing one's conscience according to reason and revelation, as guided by Church teachings.
When facing a situation where one disagrees with a specific teaching, it is advised to consult with a pastor or spiritual guide who can provide clarity. One should assume that the Church's understanding of God's revelation is deeper and more reliable than any individual's interpretation. Even if one's decision does not align with the Church's teaching, it is important to maintain trust in God's mercy and love, and to continue participating in the sacramental and spiritual life of the Catholic Church.
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Deepening your prayer life
Designate a consistent time and place
Consistency aids in building a routine. While exceptions may arise, having a designated time and place for prayer helps establish a routine.
Use a journal
Writing down prayers, thoughts, and Scripture verses in a journal helps to recognize patterns in how God speaks over time. It also serves as a record of God's work in your life.
Pray Scripture
Incorporating Scripture into your prayers aligns your heart with God's truth. The Bible is filled with prayers, declarations, and promises that can guide your conversations with God. For instance, when anxious, praying Philippians 4:6-7 can bring peace: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Organize your prayers
Create a system to emphasize different prayer requests on different days. For example, dedicate Sundays for family and close relationships, Mondays for people you want to reach out to, Tuesdays for those who are sick or in need, and so on.
Pray with others
Praying with others can help you pray longer and with more focus. It fosters bonds and accountability. While personal prayer time is essential, praying with a community can deepen your spiritual life and anchor your soul.
Pray continually
Remember that talking to God doesn't require a reservation. Carry on a constant conversation with Him throughout your day, in both the big and little moments.
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Embodying selflessness and charity
Selflessness and charity are integral to the Catholic concept of Christian perfection. According to St. Paul, "without charity, we are nothing, but with charity, we reach the fullness of Christian perfection." This requires the practice of other virtues, such as faith and hope, and the moral virtues. Jesus himself commanded his followers to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This intense love for God naturally leads to a greater love for others, which is demonstrated through selflessness and charity.
Catholics are called to put others first and to give sacrificially, not just from their excess. This can take many forms, such as volunteering time and skills at a local parish, supporting Catholic charities, or helping those in need within the community. It can also mean donating money or food to those in need, as the Catholic Church has long been known for its acts of charity and compassion.
The Catholic Church also emphasizes the importance of prayer in developing selflessness and charity. Through prayer, Catholics can connect with God and align their will with His, naturally leading to a more selfless and charitable mindset. The Church's social doctrine, which emphasizes the dignity of every human person, can also help Catholics shift their focus from self to others and cultivate empathy and active listening skills.
By embodying selflessness and charity, Catholics strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who consistently put the needs of others before his own. This selflessness and charity extend beyond the self, demonstrating a virtue that is not self-serving but submits itself to the good of others, even at personal risk, as Jesus taught when he said, "Love your enemies."
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Following the teachings of saints
Saints are key figures in the life of the Catholic Church, chosen by God from every walk of life to show what it means to be an authentic disciple of Christ. They are living proof that holiness is not restricted to an elite class in the Church.
The saints and their teachings can guide us on the path to perfection. The Catechism makes many references to the testimony of saintly men and women, who, through their words and actions, speak to everyone in words that are born of the light and truth of faith.
Saint Louis Marie de Montfort teaches that the path to perfection is a Marian path, with Mary present throughout the entire journey to guide the soul and lead it to a full sharing in the mystery of Christ and, through him, to the Trinity.
Colleen Carroll Campbell, in her writings, offers readers pointers for overcoming perfectionism by following the teachings of saints such as St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, St. Benedict, St. Francis, St. Ignatius, and St. Thérèse. St. Francis de Sales, for example, advises:
> Whoever can preserve gentleness amid sorrows and weakness, and peace amid the hassles and multiplicity of daily affairs, that person is almost perfect.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a famous recovering perfectionist saint, took her love for the heart of Jesus to a new level.
The pursuit of Christian perfection is about maintaining unwavering confidence in God's mercy, despite our inevitable shortcomings. It involves striving to live each moment in God's grace and surrendering to His will. Jeannie Ewing, a Catholic spirituality writer, emphasizes that God always rewards the person whose deepest desire is to become a saint.
The first step toward true perfection in holiness is to develop "purity of conscience," which involves a stripping of all pretension, complications, and cynicism, and a return to childlike faith. This is followed by the mortification of vices, poverty of spirit, dying to self, and transformation into the crucified Christ. The final stage is the Unitive Way, in which the soul achieves union with God and is constantly turned to Him in thought and prayer, demonstrating perfect charity or love.
The saints teach us that the path to perfection is not about impressing others or even ourselves, but about fixing our eyes on Jesus and following His example. It involves loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, and sacrificing our own good for another.
In conclusion, by following the teachings and examples of the saints, we can strive for holiness and perfection in our own lives, drawing closer to God and becoming more like Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
Christian perfection is a spiritual union with God that can be achieved in this life. It is a relative perfection that coexists with human miseries, passions, and venial sins. It is achieved through charity, which unites the soul with God.
Charity is essential to Christian perfection. It involves self-giving and community, where one's love for God and others is more important than their physical or emotional comfort. St. Paul teaches that without charity, we are nothing, but with it, we attain the fullness of Christian perfection.
To increase in perfection, one must strive to live each moment in God's grace and surrender to His will. This means cultivating habits and virtues, such as faith, hope, and moral virtues, that bring us closer to God. It also involves deepening one's prayer life and practicing charity through selfless acts and kindness.
The obstacles to Christian perfection include concupiscence of the eyes, concupiscence of the flesh, and the pride of life. These can be overcome by taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which remove the obstacles and increase one's love for God.
Saints provide a path to perfection. By following their examples and teachings, we can strive for holiness and union with God. Saints like St. Louis Marie de Montfort have taught specific stages and paths towards perfection.
