St. Teresa of Avila once said that if she had to choose between a holy spiritual director and a competent one she would choose the competent one every time. Seminaries and formation programs are geared to give individuals the competence they will need in ministry. However, the Vatican Council reminded us there is a universal call to holiness. Jesus said we need to have surpassing righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount. All of which calls for a deeper understanding of holiness. A contemporary theologian observed that holiness is not a moral, religious or ethical quality but the constant effort to point beyond oneself to God. We can get over our anger and stop name-calling once we start to see others as God sees them.
