Holiness Is Always in Season

For a Christian, the way to reach perfection is to strive

for holiness. What is true perfection? Christ's words

are clear, sublime and disconcerting: "Be perfect as your

heavenly Father is perfect." To have God as our model is a

dizzying thought Yet the Church reminds us that, "All the

faithful, whatever their condition or state in life, are called

by the Lord to that perfect holiness."

The Church teaches us that holiness is not the concern of a

privileged few, nor does it only pertain to Christians of the

past. Holiness is always a call to every Christian of every

age, a challenge for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps

of Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI says: "Holiness never goes out of

fashion; on the contrary, with the passage of time it shines

out ever more brightly, expressing man's perennial effort to

reach God." Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote: "Holiness is

not something for the extraordinary; it is not a luxury of the

few. Holiness is the simple duty for each one of us."

The saints are our models and teachers in the ways of

holiness. They show us that holiness is possible for us, since

they experienced the same difficulties and weaknesses we

do, yet persevered in achieving sanctity. The world of saints

is a world of wonders, and in this book Pope Benedict XVI

helps us to enter into that world.

This inspiring volume presents the Pope's numerous

reflections on many saints arranged according to the calendar

year. He shows how the life of each saint has something

unique to teach us about virtue, faith, courage and love of

Christ. Dozens of saints are covered in this wonderful spiritual

book. The Pope exhorts us through their lives, "Be holy

Be saints "