Cradled in the Arms of Love

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Holiness is often seen as a state unattainable by the ordinary person and reserved for some spiritual elite or at least for those who have a special vocation in the Church. However the teaching of the Church is very clear that each one of us is called by God to sanctity. But what is sanctity and how is it to be attained? In this book the effort is made to illuminate the central reality of all holiness its inner core. And when this reality begins to shed its light we realize that holiness is not a human accomplishment a state of self-attained virtue and autonomy but simply a state of childlike receptivity to our loving Father a state of communion with Christ...the state of loving intimacy with the Trinity who dwells within us. It is nothing but the loving and trust-filled openness of a little child who knows that he or she is infinitely loved and so can welcome the gift poured forth unceasingly by such a loving God and can surrender entirely into his embrace in return. This state of intimacy lost once through sin but restored within us through God's pure gift is a wellspring of abiding peace and joy which nothing can take away.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>This attitude of childlike trust and loving confidence is manifested in a special way in an interior openness of heart before God and before every person. Such openness in turn bears a threefold character which is revealed through what are traditionally called the evangelical counsels namely poverty obedience and chastity. These are not the reserve of consecrated religious persons but manifest true holiness in the heart of every state of life in the existence of each individual. Healing the wound of closedness that came about through the sin of Adam and Eve in their pride possessiveness and pleasure-seeking they are simply the expression of loving openness an openness that flowers in profound intimacy with God.</span></p><p></p>