How to Grow in Holiness: Practical Steps to Spiritual Growth

Growing in holiness is the lifelong journey of every Catholic. Rooted in our baptismal call, it is the process of becoming more like Christ and aligning our lives with God’s will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that every person is called to holiness (CCC 2013), and the path to holiness is open to all, regardless of one’s vocation or state in life. But what does it mean to grow in holiness, and how can we practically pursue this goal in our everyday lives?

In this blog post, we will explore how Catholics can grow in holiness, focusing on the key elements of prayer, the sacraments, virtue, and love. We will also reflect on the importance of seeking God’s grace and guidance along the way.

The Call to Holiness: Rooted in Baptism

The call to holiness is not limited to priests, religious, or mystics. It is the universal vocation of every Christian. As the Catechism reminds us, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (CCC 2013). This call begins at baptism, where we are made children of God and members of the Body of Christ.

Through baptism, we receive sanctifying grace, which orients us toward holiness. The sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Confession, help us grow in grace and holiness by providing spiritual nourishment and healing. Frequent reception of these sacraments enables us to overcome sin and grow in virtue, making us more like Christ.

The Role of Prayer in Growing in Holiness

Prayer is the foundation of a life of holiness. Through prayer, we enter into communion with God, deepening our relationship with Him.

St. Teresa of Ávila famously said,

“Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”

Prayer helps us listen to God’s voice, understand His will, and receive the grace we need to carry out that will.

A strong prayer life should include various forms of prayer:

• Vocal Prayer: Reciting prayers like the Our Father, Hail Mary, or the Rosary helps us focus our minds and hearts on God.
• Meditative Prayer: Reflecting on Scripture or the lives of the saints allows us to internalize God’s Word and apply it to our lives.
• Contemplative Prayer: Silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament is a way to be still in God’s presence and experience His peace and love.

Making time for daily prayer is essential for spiritual growth. It creates the space for God to work in our hearts, transforming us and drawing us closer to Him.

The Importance of the Sacraments

The sacraments are God’s gifts to the Church, and they play an indispensable role in our journey to holiness. The Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life, provides the nourishment we need to grow in union with Christ. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive His very Body and Blood, which strengthens us for the journey of faith.

Confession, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is another crucial means of growth. Sin hinders our relationship with God and prevents us from growing in holiness. In Confession, we receive God’s mercy, which heals our souls and restores our friendship with Him. Regular Confession helps us to overcome habitual sins and deepens our reliance on God’s grace.

Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick also have specific graces tied to them that aid in sanctifying individuals in their respective vocations and states in life.

Growing in Virtue

Virtue is the habitual disposition to do good. The more we grow in virtue, the more our actions are aligned with God’s will. Holiness requires the practice of both theological virtues—faith, hope, and charity—and cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

• Faith helps us trust in God’s promises and live in accordance with His Word.
• Hope sustains us in the midst of trials, reminding us that our ultimate goal is eternal life with God.
• Charity is the greatest virtue and the essence of holiness, as it involves loving God and our neighbor as ourselves.

The practice of virtue requires self-discipline and humility, but it leads to greater freedom and joy in Christ. As we grow in virtue, we become more attuned to God’s presence in our lives and more willing to cooperate with His grace.

Love: The Heart of Holiness

At the heart of holiness is love. St. John Paul II once said,

“The path to holiness… passes through the heart of love.”

Love is not merely an emotion; it is an act of the will, a decision to seek the good of the other. True love always reflects the love of Christ, who gave Himself completely for our salvation.

To grow in holiness, we must imitate Christ’s self-giving love. This means loving God above all things and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Acts of charity—whether small or great—draw us closer to God and increase the virtue of love within us. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, emphasized the importance of doing small things with great love. In her “little way,” she showed how holiness is attainable for everyone, even in the ordinary moments of life.

We Are All Called to Be Saints

In the Catholic tradition, there is a profound and beautiful truth: every person is called to be a saint. This call, known as the universal call to holiness, is not just for priests, religious, or the canonized saints we celebrate throughout the liturgical year. It’s a call for every baptized Christian.

The Second Vatican Council emphasized this truth in the document Lumen Gentium (affiliate), stating that “all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord — each in his or her own way — to that perfect holiness by which the Father himself is perfect” (LG 11).

Holiness in Daily Life

Holiness is not reserved for extraordinary moments; it is meant to be lived out in the ordinariness of our daily lives. Whether you’re a parent caring for children, a professional working in an office, or a student navigating school life, God calls you to sanctity in the very place you find yourself. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, understood this well. Her “Little Way” teaches us that we can become holy through small acts of love and sacrifice, offering everything to God with a pure heart.

For more information, you might like to read her book, The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (affiliate). This edition includes over 288 footnotes, and many additional letters, counsels, and prayers, creating a study edition for readers to better understand St. Thérèse’s ‘little way’ to deepening a relationship with God.

In practice, this means doing everything for the glory of God, offering your work, relationships, and struggles to Him, and seeking to follow His will in every aspect of your life. This echoes St. Paul’s message in his letter to the Corinthians: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Sacramental Life as the Path to Holiness

Living a life of holiness is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires grace, which is why the sacraments are so central to growing in holiness. Through Baptism, we are initiated into the life of grace, receiving the call to live as priests, prophets, and kings. In Confession, we find the mercy and strength to begin again when we fall, and in the Eucharist, we are nourished by Christ’s Body and Blood, receiving the grace to persevere in our journey toward sainthood.

Pope St. John Paul II once said,

“The saints are the true bearers of light within history.”

And while the saints in heaven are our models and intercessors, we are called to be bearers of light in our own lives, radiating the love of Christ in our families, communities, and workplaces.

Ultimately, the call to holiness is about love—loving God and loving others with the same love Christ showed us. As St. Augustine once said, “Love, and do what you will,” meaning that when our hearts are oriented toward God and His love, our actions naturally follow the path of holiness.

Conclusion: The Pursuit of Holiness

Holiness is not an unattainable goal reserved for saints or those in religious life. It is the universal call of every Christian, and it is something we can all pursue, regardless of our state in life. By deepening our prayer life, frequenting the sacraments, practicing virtue, and living out Christ’s love, we grow closer to God and become more like Him.

Growing in holiness is a journey, not a destination. It requires patience, perseverance, and trust in God’s grace. As we take steps towards holiness, we become more fully the people God created us to be—radiating His love, mercy, and light to the world. Let us respond to God’s call with hearts full of faith and a desire to love as He loves.

In the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux,

“Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.”

Let us seek to be what God wants us to be: holy, as He is holy.

Go Deeper: Fr. Ripperger’s 5-Part Holiness Conference

If you’re feeling called to deepen your understanding of holiness and how to live out your Catholic faith in today’s world, I highly recommend watching Fr. Chad Ripperger’s 5-part Holiness Conference.

Fr. Ripperger, a well-known Catholic theologian and exorcist, gives a powerful and insightful explanation of holiness, breaking it down in a way that is both theologically rich and accessible for everyday Catholics:

Fr. Chad Ripperger’s series teaches us how to strive for personal sanctity by aligning our will with God’s and overcoming obstacles to virtue. His practical, Church-rooted wisdom provides clear guidance for a deeper commitment to Christ. These videos offer concrete steps for anyone serious about growing in holiness, whether new to the faith or seeking spiritual depth.