What should I do to attain holiness?” a disciple asked his master. “Follow your heart,” replied the master, while adding that “to follow your heart you’ll need a strong will”. Surely, to attain holiness one requires deep faith, inner freedom, firm will and a heart full of love.
For Catholics, November dawns with commemorations of saints and deceased souls. The phrase “communion of saints” is used for “holy persons” who are in various stages of their pilgrimage towards attaining heavenly bliss. First, there are those holy, godly believers we meet daily, whose lives give us a foretaste of heaven, here-and-now. Second, there are those who are already dead, but still in states of purification before being perfectly united with God. Third, are the saints, who are already in communion with God, fully and forever.
Some people are declared “saints” by legitimate religious authorities. But, there are many others whose goodness and godliness goes unrecognised. It’s wonderful to meet such people who exude immense joy, spread peace and promote love wherever they go. In his famous “sermon on the mount” Jesus preached so-called “beatitudes” — pronouncements of blessing phrased in a formula that begins with “Blessed are…!”
Jesus mentions nine beatitudes which are hallmarks of saints i.e. they are poor in spirit, pure in heart, humble, merciful, peacemakers, they hunger for righteousness, mourn with those who suffer, endure hardships in their quest for truth and are reviled for their faith. Such “blessed beings” are outstanding “children of God” and heirs of heaven.
In his much-loved bhajan “Vaishnava jana to...”, which describes a true Vaishnavite, 15th century Gujarati poet Narsinh Mehta mentions a list of virtues, namely: one must feel the pain of others; help those in misery; be free from ego, avarice, greed or lust; be pure in thought, word and deed; be liberated from attachments; respectful towards everyone and united to God. It is interesting to note that Mahatma Gandhi not only loved Christ’s beatitudes and Vaishnava virtues, but embodied them in large measure in his life’s vision and mission.
A welcoming smile, a helping hand, an encouraging word, support to the sick, sharing of wealth and humanitarian ventures can help us to attain holiness, which, after all, comes from following one’s heart wherein holy God abides.
Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
