The Holydays of Obligation of the Epiphany and the Ascension have returned to their traditional places on the twelfth day of Christmas (except if that is a Saturday or Monday – which it was this year!) and Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter.

Here is Malcolm Guite’s sonnet on the Ascension. He captures the double meaning very well – this feast tells us that we are now part of heaven’s story, while heaven shows us a human face. The words are well worth our reflection.

We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
 Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.

We saw him go and yet we were not parted 
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted 
Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings

Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness, 
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight, 
Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness 
And sing the waning darkness into light

His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
 Which all creation waits to see revealed.

Pope Francis has released a new Apostolic Exhortation ‘Gaudete et Exsultate‘ on the call to holiness in today’s world.
There is an emphasis on the document being practical and useful in modern times and it is not intended to be an academic or doctrinal text. As its summary document states, its goal is “to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time.”

The call to holiness is one that cries out to all of us in our daily lives. Gaudete et Exsultate encourages us to take inspiration from the ‘Saints next door’ – people who may not be officially canonised but can be decisive in bringing about change.
“The greatest figures of prophecy and sanctity step forth out of the darkest night. But for the most part, the formative stream of the mystical life remains invisible. Certainly the most decisive turning points in world history are substantially co-determined by souls whom no history book ever mentions. And we will only find out about those souls to whom we owe the decisive turning points in our personal lives on the day when all that is hidden is revealed.”

Holiness is described as the “most attractive face of the Church” and is attainable despite the challenges of everyday life. Pope Francis wants people to know that they don’t need special education or qualifications, nor to have taken religious vows to be holy – just an open heart and a desire to spend some time with the Lord in prayer and by reading the Gospel. He also wants people to know that the Church makes available everything they need to become holy.

A far reaching and accessible document, Gaudete et Exsultate examines many subjects tied in to our relationship with Christ – prayer, reading scripture, helping others, maintaining and upholding human dignity not to mention challenges to holiness such as the danger of gossip.

Edited from the Bishops’ Conference site where you can download the Document and information: www.catholicnews.org.uk/exhortation-gaudete-et-exsultate