Tag: holy

Growing up, there was a way in which I always felt excluded from holy things.  There was the holy: blessed water, sacred oil, priestly blessings, consecrated priests, pilgrimage sites, religious buildings and communion to name a few and then there was everything else including me.  Yet, I was a good kid who always (or almost always) did as I was told.  Doing good works is not contrary to a Catholic childhood or education.  In fact, it is an integral part of Catholicism, but there is also a competing notion that good works are in a different ontological category from holiness.  While goodness merits salvation, salvation is not connected to being holy.  Holiness was granted; salvation was earned.  In addition, holiness also seemed more distant because men had more access to holiness than women did.  Only men could be ordained and priests consecrate the Eucharist, celebrate the sacraments and bless people and things.  These are all holy things and the closer one interacts with holiness, the more holiness is bound to transfer onto the person coming into contact with them. Continue reading “On the Path of Holiness by Ivy Helman”