The gift of the Holy Spirit makes the eternal commandment that God has given to His people: “Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Lev 19:2) current and for all real. Holiness seems to be a difficult goal, achievable only for people who are quite unique, or for those who are completely detached from the life and culture of their time. In fact, holiness is a gift and a task rooted in baptism and confirmation, entrusted to all members of the Church in every age. It is a gift and a task for the laity as it is for religious people and priests, in the private sphere, as in public activities, in the lives of individuals as well as families and communities.
John Paul II, Vatican, November 30, 1997
