Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Move towards Christ


I am still coasting along reading the spiritual classic Transformation in Christ by Dietrich Von Hildebrand. He gives an in-depth analysis of the path of holiness for those who love Christ and desire to change. Von Hildebrand devotes a chapter to each spiritual attitude for those who strive for Christian perfection.

Von Hildebrand puts before us the stark choice we are given: do we really want to be transformed in Christ - all of us who seek to answer this question know that there are all sorts of resistances we put up. We fight against the inflow of God's grace. He urges us to be like wax ready to receive the stamp of Christ.

But, God does not wish to annihilate our personality and freedom. The paradox is that we only become our true selves so that our unique personality shines when we become transformed in Christ. And this is where Von Hildebrand brilliantly shows us true personality versus the kind of conventional personality into which we have grown. Readiness to change and be moved towards Christ: this is the key.

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Pray for the Canonization of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

"We must belong entirely to God just as the saints belong entirely to him, to think only of him, to love him alone, to live for him only ."
Blessed William Joseph Chaminade