The Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage took place from Friday 31st May to Wednesday 5th June and we thank all who prayed for the success of the pilgrimage and all those who travelled from the parish kept all of you in our prayers while there. Different topics came up during the ceremonies out there, one of them being holiness. We come across the phrases holy and holiness quite often but people find it very difficult to look at themselves as being holy or called to holiness. Those who were present at the ‘Mass for the Deceased Helpers’ would have heard these words on holiness in the homily. They are taken from a book called ‘Rediscover Catholicism’, written by Matthew Kelly:
“The North Star is the only star in the sky that never moves; it remains constant and unwavering, and therefore is a true guide. In the same way, God’s call to live a holy life never changes. In a world of rapid and constant change, it is what is unchanging that allows us to make sense of change. The ideas you encounter may change, your emotions may change, but God’s call to live a holy life never changes. The North Star of the spiritual life is the call to holiness. It leads us unfailingly to Jesus, who is, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life,’ even when he seems distant or unknown. If we are to find our way as individuals and as a Church, it is vital that we rediscover this great spiritual North Star, so that in times of confusion, or decision, we can ask ourselves, ‘How is this situation an invitation to grow in holiness?’
The quote stopped there and then the homily continued by looking at the work that the helpers do in Lourdes and how in that work holiness can be lived very quietly, but very effectively, with every small thing being fulfilled for the assisted pilgrims offered in faith. The names of the helpers who had died over the last twelve months and some from before were called out and they were especially prayed for at the end of the homily. In the book, after this passage, Matthew Kelly continues to write about holiness and its importance. Here are a few more lines:
Holiness and renewal are inseparably linked. Where there is holiness, the Church has always thrived. If the Church is not thriving there is one primary reason for that…and when you and I begin to take God’s call to live holy lives seriously, the Church will begin to thrive in new and exciting ways.”
Maybe over the summer months we can continue to look at how the writer continues to develop the theme and how he portrays holiness and poses questions and answers as he writes of what holiness can be.