Let’s face it – there’s not a single person that feels ‘holy’ when they are stuck in traffic or scrolling endlessly during their lunch break. Holiness seems to be one of those fancy terms that belongs in the lexicon of some pure, untainted figure caricatured over stained glass, rather than us commoners sporting harbor freight workers shirts with coffee stains as armor, a treacherously long to-do list mocking our very being, and a dish pile in the sink that dares us to clean it. But here’s the wild thing that grace mars my mind multiple times a day: holiness is not some exclusive club meant for those striving for ‘perfection’, such as monks, nuns, or the few blessed souls that manage to keep their cool 100% of the time.
It like a siren deafening everyone with the screaming – literally – waiting in the depths of Scripture, Catechism, and all the recalled saints: “It’s meant for everyone – the famous mark on virtue’s backbone is ‘be holy for I am holy’ (1 Peter 1:16).” If virtues fuel our actions like muscles and order creates a structure akin to skeletons holding us up, like discussed in “The Quiet Strength of Virtues” and “Order in the Chaos”, holiness becomes the heart that keeps everything alive.The trip that God tries to go with us on is open to participants regardless of age. So whether you’re 25 trying to figure out life, 70 reflecting back on life, a parent swamped with taking care of a baby, a priest shepherding a church, a big visionary, or a doubter grappling with their faith, God’s invited everyone on the trip.
What’s holiness anyway? Saint Thomas Aquinas, the medieval hack, cut through all this fluff and said: “the perfection of charity” (Summa Theologiae, II-II, Q. 184, A. 1). That’s love—but not in soft Hallmark cardway with violins and roses. It’s the raw self-surrendering love that screamed like the man on the cross, Here I am, I am ready to bleed. It indeed is clean love, but love that hurts. It’s not about hovering above the mess being pristine; it’s about diving head first into life with the heart wide-open. Holiness, according to Peter Kreeft, a modern day philosopher known for discussing complicated subjects in a manner that feels like you’re having a chat over a cold one, is pretty bold: “It’s the only game in town if you want to be fully human” (Back to Virtue, p. 145). You don’t get to pick it up as a side quest its the main objective . It’s not optional.
On this the bible doesn’t hold back.
You have to be flawless, just as your father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). This doesn’t sound easy, does it? Who has the time to be flawless when they’re running late for work, and the dog is happily chewing on their favorite footwear? The late Pope John Paul II had a smile even while being a target for communists and Nazis, showing how he lived with extraordinary grace. He explains in Veritatis Splendor that pulling off these impossible feats alone isn’t what counts—it’s letting God work miracles within us. He follows this thought by stating, “The way and at the same time the content of this perfection consist in the following of Jesus” (VS, 19). This means that holiness is more akin to a dance with Christ than a sprint towards a destination—albeit a wobbly one, where you can take one step forward and trip over your own two feet. Still, you get to move alongside Him.
Where Virtues and Order Meet
It’s best we put things into perspective. Holiness is born out of the place order embodying virtue meets bosom. It is like the extra tools we obtain. In the thick of chaos, you can count on your wise best friend, or, in this case, virtue (Prudence) to keep you praying and not scrolling endlessly on X, a.k.a Twitter. In fact, we’re convinced it can be a simple “Help me, Lord” before the mess follows.
To love your neighbor means to love even those that are hard to love, like that coworker that keeps stealing all your lunch ideas. Trusting in fortitude means sticking to your faith when the world is rolling its eyes at you and calling it an old fairy tale. She says no to going overboard on the pizza or forgoing a Netflix session for some late night spiritual grooming, leaving your mind, body, and soul open for the God in the morning. Then come the big three. Telling you to mark faith as trusting He is present even when you can’t feel Him, hope as wagering heaven when the situation gets dire, and charity as pouring it all without holding back. The Catechism of the Church calls it nicely “All the faithful… are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (CCC 2013). We’re not quoting the official crews here. It’s all of us.
But it goes beyond simply being a checklist for you to breezily tick off. While Frankl’s Viktor’s hideous portrait of hell is being imagined: barbed wire, dying of hunger, and somehow managing to wake up each day, he finds holiness in meaning. Words from his book “It’s about choosing what’s worth suffering for” (Man’s Search for Meaning, p. 104). He chose helping others in the camps, And for us, it is God.
That same Fulton Sheen quoted in Life of Christ calling holiness ‘the hidden life of Christ in the soul’ (p. 23) refers to holiness as something undertone because it is not loud or showy. It is indeed quiet like a current. I am sure each one of you has come across an epitome of calmness who despite everything happening in their life manages to be unfazed. That profound idea is holiness spilling over sick and tired of pent up pressure.
The Chase: Ancient Wisdom & Modern Hustle
No one has any idea that this is a millennia old concept where Socrates even before Christ believed in the description of “good life” and associated it with one’s soul being in sync with truth (Plato, Gorgias, 482c). Turns out Sain Augustine took it to the next level calling rest in god as ‘passive’ where she states ‘our heart rests till we find you.’ Holiness could equally be termed as rest but with active opposition. In comparison with a cold beverage can make one blend into a couch, ‘actively chasing’ best defines holiness. Leap of faith was introduced by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard in ‘Fear and Trembling’ (p34) not reckless or blind but indeed trusting that you will be caught by unseen ground, covered by God Almighty.
How do we reconcile modern life with this pursuit of holiness in our highly ‘phone-scheduled’ lives? Embrace the chaos of life and begin from the where you await in your whirlwind of distractions.
Saint Teresa of Ávila, a woman who was quite familiar with messy souls (she was a wildfire who reformed convents while suffering from migraines), once said, “The Lord doesn’t look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done” (Interior Castle, IV.1.7). What she means is, that cup of coffee you begrudgingly prepare for your spouse when you’re both grumpy? Divine, if love is the motivation. That prayer you bumble through half-asleep, struggling to put together coherent sentences? Sacred, if it’s genuine. Scott Hahn, who treats the Mass like a sports fanatic at the Super Bowl, tells us that the Eucharist is our fuel: “Holiness flows from the altar” (The Lamb’s Supper, p. 117). It is Christ Himself—not some ethereal notion—who draws us into His life every time we kneel there.
The Hurdles: Real Talk
We need to get real, though. This pursuit does come with some obstacles, and they aren’t minor. Distractions are relentless: your phone buzzes, the kids scream, the news feed is in shambles.
Then comes that creeping self-doubt, that voice that says, “Holy? You? Get real.” And the worst? The guilt that whispers, “Impossible. You are not good enough—and you never will be.” Plotinus, a pagan who greatly influenced Augustine, envisioned existence as a return to the divine—shedding all the weight that slowed one down (Enneads, I.6.5). For us, that’s sin—those habits, those choices that bind us. Confession is our reset button—John Paul II best termed it “the sacrament of joy” (Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 31). Have you ever emerged from the confessional feeling like you could float? That’s holiness stretching its wings, dusting itself off, and soaring.
The saints highlight that it’s not a fantasy. Consider Saint Thérèse of Lisieux—she did not lead armies nor did she slay dragons, but she was a woman who performed small acts of love. I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies,” she wrote (Story of a Soul, Ch. IX), and boy, does that resonate. Or Saint Joseph, the silent carpenter with hands that bore the callouses of hard work, and not a single line of Scripture in the role, whom said yes to God’s audacious plan—raising the Messiah. Appearing to say, “No” Holiness isn’t gaudy or Instagrammable. It’s steadfast.
Cardinal Burke describes a complete adherence to ‘conformity to Christ in every aspect of life,’ including work, play, laughter, tears, and even family dinners.
Bite-Sized Holiness: Practical Steps
The epic talk must be balanced by streamlining the actions, which is why it’s important to make effort incrementally. Holiness becomes accessible when approached with heart over demand for heroism. Pick up the Bible daily for at least five minutes, or take on the challenge of facing Leviticus and settle into John’s easier parts. Make an effort to attend mass more than once a week; it is the ‘holiness gym.’ It incense grace being pumped into your veins. Mentally decree “Jesus, I trust You” in times of stress—the phrase is as short, powerful, and refreshing as a spiritual espresso shot. Assist someone without the intention of being noticed and publicly boasting about it. No need to become a saint; take it easy, one small choice at a time.
Why Chase It?
So why go through the trouble of chasing it? Because of our purpose: simply put, as Saint Irenaeus puts it, ‘the glory of God is man fully alive’ (Against Heresies IV.20.7). John Paul II’s favorite quote served his purpose and inspired him further, declaring it his battle cry.
Holiness isn’t lifeless — rather, it is a life full of purpose turned to the highest intensity. Regardless, there’s a challenge to it. In today’s fast-paced world where everything is buzzing around you, deadlines are knocking on your door, and the only thing smiling and taking root is moral relativism, finding boundaries and holiness seems virtually impossible. That’s what’s addressed next in “Holy and Harried: Facing Today’s Battles with Yesterday’s Faith”. For now, understand this: holiness is not a goal you reach after panting your way through the struggle to cross the finish line. It becomes achievable when you embark on a road trip with God driving — wind tousling your hair, road bending in all kinds of directions, and the sights to be seen during the drive make every inch of the journey worthwhile. You need to buckle up because this ride is one of a kind.
I’m Jonathan Raeder, scholar of philosophy and the Catholic faith, deeply dedicated to exploring the teachings and traditions of the Church. Through years of study and reflection, I have gained a thorough understanding of Catholic philosophy, theology, and spirituality. My intention is to connect intellectual reflection with lived faith, shedding light on the richness of Catholic thought for all who wish to do so.