ISBN 9966-60-126-1; 24 pages; publication 2018

Rejoice and be Glad is the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis in which he takes up the perennial call to holiness. Traditionally, holiness has been seen as a preserve of the few – mostly bishops, priests and religious. Pope Francis’ exhortation does not make such distinctions. The call to holiness is extended to all the baptized: lay or clerical, religious or married. Holiness is about cultivating communion with God and with neighbour in ordinary circumstances. This booklet presents a summary of the papal exhortation and offers suggestions for pastoral or practical application. The booklet is not meant as a substitute for the original document Rejoice and be Glad (Gaudete Et Exsultate). The reader is encouraged to acquaint himself or herself with the complete document.

Apostolic Exhortation GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE of the Holy Father FRANCIS

“REJOICE AND BE GLAD” (Mt 5:12), Jesus tells those persecuted or humiliated for his sake. The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence. The call to holiness is present in various ways from the very first pages of the Bible. We see it expressed in the Lord’s words to Abraham: “Walk before me, and be blameless” (Gen 17:1).

What follows is not meant to be a treatise on holiness, containing definitions and distinctions helpful for understanding this important subject, or a discussion of the various means of sanctification. My modest goal is to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities. For the Lord has chosen each one of us “to be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph 1:4).