In our creation, redemption, and sanctification, God’s ultimate purpose is his eternal glory. We are created, redeemed, and sanctified to glorify God in this life and in eternity. God so disposed things that intelligent creatures would find their happiness in glorifying him.
The most direct preparation for entrance into heaven consists in living St. Paul’s teaching: “Whatever you do, do for the glory of God” (see Col 3:23). This must be the first and constant concern of the person aiming for sanctity. It is an anticipation of the heavenly life.
To Live in Christ
The general means necessary for attaining eternal happiness is the sanctification of our entire being. This is achieved by living in Jesus Christ: “This is how God’s love was made clear to us. God sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him” (1 Jn 4:9). He is the vine; human beings are the branches.
p. 1If the branch lives on the sanctifying lifeblood of Jesus Christ, it will bear fruits of eternal life; detached from Jesus the Vine, it withers and is thrown into the fire (see Jn 15:1–8).
This union with Christ must be complete, through faith in his word and imitation of him. Grace, the life of our soul, makes this possible.
On the Way of Sanctity
The present life is a preparation of our whole being for heaven—mind, will, heart, and body. Our permanent home is in eternity—either safe forever with God or lost forever in hell.
The salvation of our soul is our one absolutely necessary duty. On this earth, we are subjected to a test; blessed is the one who passes the test and receives the crown. To pass the test we must know, serve, and unite ourselves to the Lord, loving him with all our heart, above all things, because God is the Supreme Good and our eternal happiness. All the natural and supernatural gifts we possess on earth constitute the means to attain salvation. The Divine Master said: “For what good will it do a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his life?” (Mt 16:26).
Those who aspire to the religious life and those who wish to assure themselves of heaven must strive diligently for their own sanctification.
Moreover, one who has professed religious vows has assumed the obligation of striving for perfection because of the commitments made and of the abundant means given by Divine Goodness.
Intense, constant spiritual work is required. Though difficult, this work is the most noble and consoling. Because of humanity’s fallen state due to original sin, this work entails two things:
- Remove the evil—that comes from bad interior inclinations and the action of the devil and the world—through spiritual combat, self-denial, avoidance of dangers and sin: “Avoid evil”;
- Direct the person to supernatural union with God. The whole person must be directed toward God and united to him: the mind with
a lively faith, the will with a virtuous life, the heart with supernatural sentiments: “Do good.”
Jesus Christ, Way, Truth, and Life
In God is every good for the present life and for eternal life. Our union with God is achieved through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
p. 3Jesus is the mediator between God and the person. He fulfilled his mission through his three main roles: as Master and Teacher, since he is the Truth; as King and Shepherd, since he is the Way; and as Priest and Host, since he is the Life.
The Divine Master said: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). That is: “I am the Way that you must follow, the Truth that you must believe, the Life that you must hope for” (Imitation of Christ III, 56). He lives in the person who is in the state of grace, and the person in the state of grace lives in him for the glory of God and peace to people.
Jesus Christ carries out this work in each individual person through the Church. The Church communicates the same truths, guides the faithful with a loving rule, and communicates grace through the sacraments.
All this brings about one’s sanctification. Thus, we are able to live in Jesus Christ on earth, so that we may live in eternal happiness with him in heaven.
The Good Fight of Faith
A person is lost who withdraws from God through sin, which is “to turn away from God and to turn toward creatures.” Spiritual ruin results from sin.
p. 4Instead, one who seeks God is saved, for this is “to turn away from creatures and to turn toward God.”
Our resolutions and real spiritual work should have a negative and a positive component. For example: fight against pride to replace it with humility; fight against concupiscence of the flesh to replace it with mortification and chastity; fight against avarice and the spirit of ease to replace it with charity and poverty. It is a matter of removing the old Adam to put on the new man, Jesus Christ (see Eph 4:24).
Although everyone has many passions and evil inclinations, one of these predominates. Spiritual work consists in coming to know it, curb it, and place it at the service of God by practicing the opposite virtue. It is wise, easy, and effective to divide this work by taking up one thing at a time.
This work is to be planned out:
- In the spiritual exercises and monthly retreats—each one examines themselves and, with the advice of the confessor, chooses the principal resolution.
- In the examinations of conscience—the preventive, particular, and general that are made daily, as well as in the weekly, monthly, and annual examination.
- During the day—exercising constant vigilance over thoughts, sentiments, and actions in order to do the opposite of what one’s evil inclinations would suggest: “Age contra” (“Do the contrary”).
- In the daily meditation, as well as in the Mass and Holy Communion, in the daily Eucharistic adoration and Rosary—renew the resolution, praying unceasingly to fulfill it.
The main fruit of the examination of conscience is self–knowledge.
Meditation aims particularly at strengthening the will and renewing resolutions.
Holy Communion increases grace in us and establishes union with Jesus Christ.
Spiritual reading and conferences are especially meant to enlighten the mind.
Adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist and Holy Mass aim to obtain all three fruits for the mind, the will, and the heart. In practice, however, the three fruits of instruction, comfort, and grace are never completely separated. Nor is it advisable to seek to differentiate them, for the person is always one, and perfection consists in being united to Jesus Christ.
Every resolution needs to include the mind, the will, and the heart, if it is to be complete and unite us to God through Jesus Christ. For example, if one wants to replace pride with humility, it is advisable to cultivate humble thoughts according to faith, to imitate Jesus in his humble life, to nourish sentiments of humility, and to ask for this very precious grace in prayer. The same holds true for every other virtue.
In this manner, a person will draw the mind, will, and heart away from evil. In Jesus Christ one will be united wholly to God, our Supreme Good and eternal happiness.
Configured in Christ
In reality, the various devotions are directed to the one true devotion of Jesus Christ, Way, Truth, and Life. The various practices and devotions are means to live in Jesus Christ—and to glorify God through him, with him, and in him. This is eternal life, tasted beforehand here on earth and then in the glory of heaven.
Made one in Jesus Christ, we will live in him in heaven. Heaven is the complete reward—of the mind, through vision; of the will, through beatific love;
of the heart, through eternal joy; of the body, through its glorification. “I grant you dominion, just as my Father granted it to me,” said the Divine Master (Lk 22:29). St. Paul says, “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are also heirs —heirs of God, co–heirs with Christ, if we suffer with him so as to be glorified with him as well” (Rom 8:16–17).
“I consider that the sufferings of the present time simply do not compare with the glory to come, which will be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18).
Fr. James Alberione
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