At the start of the new year
The lecture calls that the new beginning be a true beginning of holiness not only a slogan, with awareness that the Devil tries to weaken the resolve in the first days.
Call to practical holiness
He urges us to put before us the life of holiness as a daily goal, and to straighten our behavior, thought and speech, because God is holy and wants us to rejoice Him by our pure life.
The Church’s tools for sanctification
The Church provides the faithful with scriptures, teaching and the sacraments (baptism, chrism, the Eucharist, repentance) to renew the person and raise him to a life of holiness.
Repentance and renewal for the new year
The new year is a white page: there must be a real practical change in behavior—leaving sin (the negative side) and planting virtues and the fruits of the Spirit (the positive side).
Fruits of the Spirit and practical conduct
A call to penetrate the fruits of the Spirit: love, sacred joy, peace, meekness, humility, giving to others, and steadfastness in worship, prayer, and fasting.
Heavenly justice and degrees
The teaching mentions that the fruits of deeds differ in degrees in heaven; not all are in one enjoyment, for the reward is according to works, therefore we are called to advanced spiritual formation.
Encouragement to hope and repentance
Even one who lived a sinful life can have sincere repentance and change course—examples of the holy fathers show that sincere repentance elevates and strengthens in the life of holiness.
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