杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淭he Lord asks everything of us, and in return offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created.鈥�

In his third Apostolic Exhortation (following Evangelii gaudium and Amoris laetitia) 杏MAP导航 Francis reflects on the call to holiness, and how we can respond to that call in the modern world. 鈥淢y modest goal鈥� in the Exhortation, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, 鈥渋s to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time.鈥�

The five chapters of  follow a logical progression, beginning with a consideration of the call to holiness as it is in itself. The Holy Father than examines two 鈥渟ubtle enemies of holiness,鈥� namely, contemporary gnosticism and contemporary pelagianism. [ Video Embed: Guide to living Christianity in the 21st century]

Holiness in living the Beatitudes
 

The heart of Gaudete et exsultate is dedicated to the idea that holiness means following Jesus. In this third chapter, 杏MAP导航 Francis considers each of the Beatitudes as embodying what it means to be holy. But if the Beatitudes show us what holiness means, the Gospel also shows us the criterion by which we will be judged: 鈥淚 was hungry and you gave me food鈥� thirsty and you gave me drink鈥� a stranger and you welcomed me鈥� naked and you clothed me鈥� sick and you took care of me鈥� in prison and you visited me.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis devotes the fourth chapter of Gaudete et exsultate to 鈥渃ertain aspects of the call to holiness鈥� that he feels 鈥渨ill prove especially meaningful鈥� in today鈥檚 world: perseverance, patience and meekness; joy and a sense of humour; boldness and passion; the communal dimension of holiness; constant prayer.

Spiritual combat and discernment
 

Finally, the Exhortation makes practical suggestions for living out the call to holiness. 鈥淭he Christian life is a constant battle,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says. 鈥淲e need strength and courage to withstand the temptations of the devil and to proclaim the Gospel.鈥� In the fifth chapter, he speaks about the need for 鈥渃ombat鈥� and vigilance, and calls us to exercise the gift of discernment, 鈥渨hich is all the more necessary today,鈥� in a world with so many distractions that keep us from hearing the Lord鈥檚 voice.

鈥淚t is my hope,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis concludes, 鈥渢hat these pages will prove helpful by enabling the whole Church to devote herself anew to promoting the desire for holiness.鈥�

The full text of the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate can be found on the Holy See .