– Te Rama Aroha The Light of Love Cross Themes –
Aroha Pūmau Holiness
Aroha Pūmau Holiness is associated with being ‘whole’ as modelled in the fullness of Jesus’ humanity(1). It is the essential character of God, and all holiness comes from God(2). Holiness saturates creation, is empowered through the Holy Spirit and modelled to us in Jesus who is ‘fully human and fully divine’. God’s holiness makes people holy and our spirituality and actions reflect this relationship. This is especially evident in Mary and the other Saints. The personal call to holiness is lifelong and is as much about who we are called to be as it is about what we do.
In Te Reo, Aroha Pūmau is perfect, constant love and compassion. To be whole is to be present with God and free from judgement of others including oneself: I trust God, I am in a moment of experiencing that I am fully loved and worthy of love; I am able to resonate with the prayer of St Francis, “Lord make me an instrument of your peace”.
(1). Francis. (2018). Gaudete et Exsultate. #20.
(2). Paul VI. (1965). Lumen Gentium. #11.
Young people will grow in understanding and awareness of God’s Aroha Pūmau Holiness, which permeates all creation. Their own personal call to holiness and wholeness, as modelled by Jesus, is seen in the lives and teachings of the Saints, and ‘saints next door’(3), and proclaimed by the Church.
(3). Francis. (2018). Gaudete et Exsultate. #6-9.
• Genesis 1:31 — God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good.
• Genesis 17:1 — The call to holiness -God’s words to Abraham: Walk before me and be blameless.
• Leviticus 11:44 — For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
• Mark 1:24 — What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you are the holy one of God.
• Hebrews 12: 14 — Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
• 2 Timothy 1:9 — By the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
• Luke 6:45 — The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
• “We must have a real living determination to reach holiness.” (St. Mother Teresa)
• I do not believe in holiness without prayer, even though that prayer need not be lengthy or involve intense emotions. (GE #147)(4)
• This holiness to which God calls you will grow through small gestures. (GE #16)
• Holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. (GE #15)
• We cannot uphold an ideal of holiness that would ignore injustice in a world where some revel, spend with abandon and live only for the latest consumer goods, even as others look on from afar, living their entire lives in abject poverty. (GE #101)
• The only tragedy in life is not to become a saint. Holiness is about realising our deepest, greatest potential, becoming who we were truly destined to be. What a shame it would be to miss it!(5)
Holiness is one of the four ‘marks’ or qualities of Christ’s Church and its members. One, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church is an article of faith ’found in the earliest creeds.’ We affirm it each time we recite the Creed.
The bishops at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) remind us that everyone is called to holiness, “for this is the will of God, your sanctification”(6).
(4). GE refers to the document Gaudete et Exsultate.
(5). Catholic writer Leon Bloy (2012) DÁmbrousio.
(6). Paul VI. (1965). Lumen Gentium. #39.
It is important to reflect on the experience and examples of Aroha Pūmau Holiness in your own context. In terms of your own school and wider community within Aotearoa New Zealand:
• What are some past examples of holiness?
• What are some examples of the opposite of holiness?
• Where do you see holiness today at your place, and elsewhere in this country?
While teaching and learning within Content Areas is based on specific Cross Theme Achievement Objectives, the following provides foci for supporting awareness of where Touchstones connect to the Cross Themes in a whole-school Catholic character context.
Young people will grow in understanding and awareness of God’s Aroha Pūmau Holiness, which is shared with all creation. Their own personal call to holiness and wholeness, as modelled by Jesus, is seen in the lives and teachings of the Saints, and ‘saints next door’, and proclaimed by the Church.
