Dear Fr. Michael:

A religious book I've been reading mentions a thing called spiritual perfection.

What does it mean?

G.T.
 

ANSWER:

Dear G.T.:

"Spiritual Perfection" can mean a number of things.  Probably the best way to answer your question is to give you some information about some of those things which are part of the General Means of Spiritual Perfection.

1.  The observance of the Ten Commandments of God.
2. The observance of the Precepts of the Church.
3. Uniting and conforming your will to the Most Holy Will of God.
4. Assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as frequently as possible.
5. Receiving the Sacraments, i.e. Penance and Holy Eucharist, as frequently as possible.
6. Meditation or Contemplation.
7. Practicing self-control, self-discipline and self-denial.
8. Being faithful in small things.
9. Establishing order and regularity.
10. Forming a habit of prayer.
11. Spiritual Reading.
12. Having frequent recourse to solitude.
13.  Implement a School of Spirituality.
14   Practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

These are general means of perfection because they are suited to everyone in every state and condition of life.

1)  What is the observance of the Ten Commandments of God?

To keep not only the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law.  In a positive way, these Commandments can be summarized as two:  Love of God and love of your neighbors.

2)  What is the observance of the Precepts of the Catholic Church?

To keep not only their letter, but also their spirit.  These are really guidelines to help you remain focused on getting to Heaven which is why each of us is here.

3)  What is meant by uniting and conforming your will to the Most Holy Will of God?

In what does the sanctification and spiritual perfection of a person consist?  Saint Francis DeSales [b. at Thorens, in the Duchy of Savoy, 21 August 21, 1567 A.D. - d. at Lyons, France on December 28, 1622 A.D.], Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church,. says that “some place it in austerity, others in giving to a charity, others in frequenting the Sacraments, others in prayer.  But for my part, I know of no other perfection than loving God with all one's heart.  Without this love all of the virtues are only a heap of stones.”

In the same way that virtue is ennobled and perfected by the love of God, “so likewise”, says Rodriguez following Saint John Chrysostom, “the highest, purest and most excellent part of this love is absolute conformity to the Divine Will and having in all things no other will but God's.”

“Whoever makes a habit of prayer should think only of doing everything to conform his will to God's.  Be assured that In this conformity consists the highest perfection we can attain and those who practice it with the greatest care will be favored by God's greatest Gifts and will make the quickest progress in the interior [Spiritual] life.  Do not imagine there are other secrets.  All our good consists in this”  (Saint Teresa of Avila, Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada [b. at Avila, Old Castile, Spain on Sunday, March 28, 1515 A.D. - d. at Alba de Tormes on Monday, October 4, 1582 A.D.]).

Therefore, conformity and uniformity to the Divine Will shall raise one while on earth to the highest degree of Grace and on it is founded the highest perfection anyone can attain in this life.  Whoever practices entire and complete submission to God's Holy Will lays up inestimable treasures at every moment and amasses more riches in a few days than others are able to acquire in many years and with great labor.  This means that a person must remain indifferent to good fortune or to adversity by accepting all of it from the Hand of God without questioning; not to ask for things to be done as we would like them to be, but rather as God wishes.

4) What is meant by assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as frequently as possible?

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered by a validly ordained Priest who uses a valid ancient Liturgical Rite of Mass has tremendous power and value which can really transform your Spiritual Life, most especially IF you are able to assist at Holy Mass daily.

Here are a few examples of the wonderful benefits you can obtain from devoutly assisting at an ancient, approved, valid and lawful Rite of Mass:

1.  By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest gratitude and homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. At the hour of your death the Holy Masses at which you have devoutly assisted will be your greatest consolation.

3. Every Mass at which you assist devoutly will go with you to your Judgment and will plead for pardon from the Just Judge for you.

4. By every Holy Mass at which you devoutly assist you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your personal fervor.

5. Through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.

6. Christ forgives you all of the Venial Sins for which you are determined to avoid and for which you are really sorry.  He also forgives you all of your unknown sins which you never confessed.

7. Satan's power over you is diminished.

8. By reverently and piously and devoutly assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass you give the Poor, Suffering Souls in Purgatory the greatest relief it is possible to give them.

9. One Holy Mass at which you devoutly assist during your life will be of more value and benefit to you than many Masses offered for you after your death.

10  Through Holy Mass you are preserved from any dangers and misfortunes which otherwise would have befallen you.

11.  By every Mass at which you devoutly assisted, you shorten your time in Purgatory.

12.  For every Mass at which you devoutly assisted, God will send a Saint to comfort you at your death.

13. During Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of Holy Angels, e.g. 3,000 Angels from the Choir of Thrones, who are reverentially present at the Adorable Sacrifice.

14.  Through Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

15.  When you assist at Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honor of any particular Angel or Saint, thanking God for the favors bestowed on that Angel or Saint, you afford that Angel or Saint a new degree of honor, joy and happiness in Heaven and also draw the special love and protection of that Angel or Saint on yourself.

16.  Every time you devoutly assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of that day according to the Liturgical Calendar.

God instituted the Sacraments as effective means of Sanctifying Grace which is received ex opere operato (automatically).

We say that the Sacraments operate ex opere operato which means that the valid ancient Rite of the Sacrament itself contains the power to confer Grace independently of the meritorious acts of the recipient.

Catholics should have recourse to the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist as frequently as possible because every time each is received worthily, a person receives an increase in Sanctifying Grace as well as the special Grace of that Sacrament so that, as in the case of Penance, it gradually becomes more and more difficult to commit sin!

6)  What is meant by Meditation or Contemplation?

On a daily basis, Catholics should learn how to Meditate on the Truths of the Holy Catholic Faith, on the life of Christ, on the lives of the Saints, especially our Blessed Mother, in order to inflame their hearts to great virtue.

If a person does not have much time to do this, it can be done in only five or ten minutes a day; although those people who have more time available should take a half hour for mediation.  Again, this should be done on a daily basis, not just once or twice a week.  They key here is daily.

7)  What is meant by practicing self-control, self-discipline and self-denial?

Both self-control and self-denial are acts of mortification: keeping down anger and abstaining even from things which are permitted, but above all avoiding even the least yielding to what is forbidden.

Self-control or self-discipline is the mark of a True Catholic.  If we deny ourselves some things which are permitted, we shall find it easier to avoid what is forbidden.  Self-control or self-discipline gives us a strong will.  Self-denial is the mark of the human being made to the image and likeness of God because an animal never says “No” to itself.

Catholics can deny themselves by avoiding what is not necessary, e.g. expensive clothes, rich food, costly houses and cars, excessive entertainments, curiosity, etc., and, above all, by doing cheerfully whatever duties come and accepting with perfect resignation to God's Holy Will all trials which God sends them.

“If anyone will follow Me, let him [her] deny himself [herself], and take up his [her] cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34).

Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, known as the Little Flower, had her “little way” of perfection in which she did everything, no matter how small, for the Love of God.  This also includes doing things you are not required to do, called acts of supererogation.  But this is nothing new in the Spiritual Life.  These solid Spiritual practices are found above under 17) God’s FAVORITES! which contains a more extensive explanation as given in the book PRACTICE OF PERFECTION AND CHRISTIAN VIRTUES by Father Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J., a.k.a. Alonso Rodriguez, S.J. [b. at Valladolid, Spain, in 1526 A.D. - d. at Seville, Spain on Sunday, February 21, 1616 A.D.].

The correct usage of these Spiritual principles are why some people seem to live a “charmed” life and get many things they want or need, either in advance, or at least seemingly without much effort, e.g. get their intentions for Masses or Novenas answered quickly, sometimes either before or during the Masses or Novenas!  Why?  Because they have earned the right to get that for which they pray in advance!!!

9)  What is meant by establishing order and regularity?

Catholics observe order and regularity by having a fixed time for everything:  for rising, retiring, eating, work, recreation, etc.

Depending upon one’s personal temperament and family situation, this fixed time may be general or specific, i.e. it may be general so that times are fixed with some flexibility assigning certain projects to morning, noon, afternoon and evening time, which is helpful for people who like to “flow”, or it may be specific, i.e. assigning a specific time of the day, e.g. 7:00 p.m., for each project.

Of course each day can have its own particular schedule, although some people prefer the same schedule for each day of the week and a more flexible schedule on week-ends.  A married couple needs to decide together on their schedule, especially if one Marriage partner prefers to “flow” with a general time framework and the other prefers assigning a specific time of the day nor night to each activity.  A workable compromise, with which each party is satisfied, should be able to be reached by the Grace of God and especially by praying for guidance to the Holy Ghost beforehand in the spirit of true Christian Charity.

We should try to imitate the order which God has placed in the whole universe, regulating everything by law.  Recreation is not against the practice of the Spiritual Life, rather, it is a need that God wishes us to satisfy in the proper manner.  It should however, not interfere with our duties, or take up too much time.

10)  What is meant by forming a habit of prayer?

Prayer helps us to avoid temptations and obtain Blessings and Favors from God.  We should especially make a habit of ejaculatory prayer which are prayers consisting of one or several words; usually not more than one full sentence at the very most, e.g. “Jesus, I trust in Thee”; “Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me”; “O Jesus, it is for your love, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

Catholics should sanctify their every action by offering it to God.  A good plan is to make a general offering every morning, within one’s morning prayers.  There are several versions of a prayer usually entitled  THE MORNING OFFERING which helps a person to better accomplish this goal.  In this way, all we do, whether it is prayer, work, and even sleep, becomes a prayer to God.  This is really the only way to fulfill the counsel of Saint Paul to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

11)  What is meant by Spiritual Reading?

Catholics should do regular Spiritual reading on a daily basis.  This reading would include reading Catholic traditional books (usually those originally published before 1950), not only on the Spiritual Life, but also especially the Douay-Rheims Catholic pre-1900 edition of the New Testament in the Bible (much of the Old Testament is difficult for many people to understand except perhaps for a few, e.g. the Psalms and Wisdom, while the historical books of the Old Testament are usually irrelevant when it comes to the Spiritual Life except for the various ethical and moral principles one finds therein but which take time to find and then to put into a correct context), on the lives of those Saints who lived in the same state of life as themselves, devotional works and other good Catholic traditional works to which the Holy Ghost guides them which the Church does not forbid to be read (i.e. the Church forbids those works which could cause any spiritual harm or damage to souls, especially to those who do not know their Holy Faith very well and who can be easily misled, confused, etc.).

If a person does not have much time to do this, it can be done in only five or ten minutes a day; although those people who have more time available should take a half hour or more for Spiritual reading.  Again, this should be done on a daily basis, not just once or twice a week.  They key here is daily because it helps to nourish one’s spirit, as well as learn things which are Spiritually profitable.

12)  What is meant by having frequent recourse to solitude?

Solitude helps us to grow in virtue because it shuts out the noise, hustle and bustle of the world which are distracting.  This is why Catholics, especially Husbands and Wives, need to imitate our Lord and to withdraw into solitude, not only to see their faults better and to make practical Spiritual plans to overcome them, but also to get closer to God; to speak with God.  This should be done daily, if possible.

The length of time one does this will depend upon one’s state in life and one’s duties and responsibilities.  Husbands and Wives need to agree between themselves on this length of time, which ideally should be the same length of time for each of them, although possibly not both of them doing this at the same time if they have young children who will need the attention of at least one parent.  They might spend this time in a room all alone in their home with the door closed or outdoors, either in their own yard or in a park or wherever the number and type of distractions are minimized as much as possible.

You can use this time to meditate or to contemplate or do Spiritual reading or to pray or simply to listen to God talk with you or, when necessary, just to rest.  Sometimes you may prefer to listen to quiet music or Gregorian Chant or some kind of ecclesiastical music; however there are times that these things can be a distraction.

During this time you may also study, e.g. the book by Father Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., entitled THE THREE AGES OF THE INTERIOR LIFE, Prelude of Eternal Life, as already mentioned above.  This important work is a basic explanation of the Spiritual Life and everyone will be able to draw much profit for their own Spiritual Life from it.

If possible, one should try to make a Spiritual Retreat once a month or at least once every six months, asking the Holy Ghost to be one’s Retreat Master or Guide since, at the present time, so-called  “retreat houses” should be avoided for various reasons.  We recommend using a work entitled THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF Saint IGNATIUS which are a practical manual consisting of considerations and meditations to lead to the amendment and sanctification of one's life and of certain practical rules.

The length of time for this retreat can be anywhere from a few hours to twelve hours to twenty four hours or, if possible, for several days, during which time one is totally isolated from the world and one’s usual duties and responsibilities and, instead, focused totally on God and on one’s Spiritual Life, through the use of total silence, the absence of all distractions, whether family, friends, radio, TV, etc.  Such time alone is needed by everyone and married couples need to realize this also and be charitable by mutually permitting their spouse such opportunities.

13)  What is meant by implement a School of Spirituality?

Schools of Spirituality are more or less complete Spiritual programs or Spiritual systems which various holy people, all of whom are canonized Saints, have used to attain sanctity in their own personal lives.  Such “systems” or “schools” or “programs” of sanctity or spirituality are based upon the lives and/or writings of various holy people including the following canonized Saints:  Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Francis De Sales, Saint Ignatius De Loyola, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Benedict, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, among others.

Some people are usually drawn more strongly to one School of Spirituality than to another as time goes by.  However, within the basic framework of the general means of Spiritual Perfection, people are free to follow the holy inspirations of God the Holy Ghost in regard to their own Spiritual Life.  This is how the various Schools of Spirituality developed having their own unique principles, strategies, techniques, etc.  However, you are free to select whatever appeals to you from more than one School of Spirituality.

14)  What is meant by practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy?

First of all, Catholics are all taught in their catechism classes what Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy are.  Therefore, no one should have any doubts or questions as to exactly what they are and how they are performed.

Some of the Corporal Works of Mercy seem to be widely practiced today.

The chief Corporal Works of Mercy are:

1) To feed the hungry.
2) To give drink to the thirsty.
3) To clothe the naked.
4)To visit the imprisoned.
5) To shelter the homeless.
6) To visit the sick.
7) To bury the dead.

The Chief Spiritual Works of Mercy are:

1) To admonish the sinner.
2) To instruct the ignorant.
3) To counsel the doubtful.
4) To comfort the sorrowful.
5) To bear wrongs patiently.
6) To forgive all injuries.
7) To pray for the living and the dead.

Because by the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy you put into complete practice the Ten Commandments of God, not merely by avoiding sin, but also by doing good to others.  Your obligation of doing good works varies with your condition in life and with your Vocation, as also with the degree of the need of your neighbor.

For example, the obligation of a millionaire for the poor of his city is not the same as that of a wage-earner.  The obligations of Bishops and Priests for good works are not always necessarily exactly the same as that of the Laity in that Bishops and Priests routinely perform the Spiritual Works of Mercy as part of their Pastoral ministry.