“Has this course helped you to grow in holiness and in your ministry, both current and in the future? Yes or No.”

This is a standard question on the evaluation form for every course offered in the Diocesan Lay Formation Program. It’s also the most important.

The call to holiness, to grow in relationship with the Lord, to grow in communion with Him and with His Church, is ultimately the most important thing. As our Lord and the Church teach: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness: ‘Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’” (CCC #2013). Not surprisingly, this exhortation is included in the documents that guide diocesan lay formation programs.

All our ministries, or activities, indeed our vocations, flow out of that primary relationship with our Lord. God is Holy and to approach him is to seek to grow in holiness. Our holiness, or lack thereof, determines where we spend eternity. In the Lay Formation Program, if our students are not growing in holiness through the courses they are taking, we are missing the boat. Ultimately, we will have failed if the answer is “no” to the above question. It doesn’t matter how good the teaching was or whatever skill set has been obtained, without growing in holiness, it will be of no account.

Now, it’s true that holiness can’t be measured or quantified. There is no exam or scorecard for a “passing grade” on holiness. Although Jesus’ teaching on the Final Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) is a great study guide! However, we can determine whether we are striving for holiness, or not, as well as whether something is helping us to grow in holiness or not.

It is not without reason that each class day is structured so as to foster that atmosphere and striving for holiness. Each day begins with the Liturgy of the Hours, intentionally placing ourselves in the presence of the Lord (and that’s ultimately what holiness is, being set apart with God and for God, to be and do whatever He asks). The center of our day is Mass, again in the presence of Our Lord, receiving Him in Holy Communion that He might be in us and we might be in Him; giving us “food for the journey” to live out this holiness in the world. Finally, our day ends with the group offering of Evening Prayer, again sanctifying (making holy!) our day and our work.

Just before the new Lay Formation class began this past August, I asked Bishop McDermott if he had any words that I could pass along to the new students. His response? “Tell them to study hard, but pray harder.” Sounds like the proper ordering, and a recipe to grow in holiness.