How to be holy : first steps in becoming a saint : a festooning of Abandonment to Divine Providence

The popular, best-selling Kreeft says that "how to be holy, how to be a saint, is the most important topic I have ever written about. It's the whole meaning of life, the 'one thing necessary'". That says a lot considering how prolific he has been as a writer. Yet, with his vast spiritual experience as a teacher and a writer, Kreeft says he is still a "beginner" on how to be holy, and that he wrote this book for other beginners. Thus Kreeft uses the insights and experiences of the saints and great spiritual writers throughout history to show what holiness is and how to achieve it. He especially draws on, or "festoons" from, key points in the classic work by de Caussade, *Abandonment to Divine Providence*. Kreeft stresses the simplicity of his approach to holiness, that his book is light on methodology and focuses mainly on the virtue of love, because "sanctity is love", that love is the whole meaning of life, and why "in the evening of our life we will be judged on our love" (Saint John of the Cross). He says his presentation on holiness is a universal one that any theist can benefit from, be they Christian, Jew, or Muslim, because the essence of all authentic religion is holiness. We are all called to be saints, and as the acclaimed French writer Léon Bloy often said, "Life, in the end, has only one tragedy: not to have been a saint." Kreeft underscores that holiness will bring us what we all long for, true happiness, and deep joy. Among the topics he covers in this quest for holiness include: Faith & Reason, Prayer, Grace, Divine Providence, Suffering, Detachment, Duties, Surrender, Peace, Spiritual Warfare, Gratitude, and more. "Life, in the end, has only one tragedy: not to have been a saint." – Léon Bloy The ever-popular and prolific Peter Kreeft says that the most important question he has written about is how one becomes holy; or to put it another way, how one becomes a saint. This question is central to all the great religions, Kreeft demonstrates, for striving toward holiness, moving toward perfect love, is the whole purpose of life. Kreeft admits that he is only a beginner on the climb to holiness, and it is to novices like him that he has written this engaging and encouraging book. Using the insights and experiences of saints and great spiritual writers throughout history, Kreeft shows what holiness is and how it can be achieved. He especially draws upon the spiritual classic Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J. The core of Caussade's timeless gem is that God reveals himself to all of us through the daily events of our lives. The surest way toward spiritual growth, therefore, is by perceiving and accepting the merciful will of God in every situation. Kreeft stresses the simplicity of his approach to holiness, which focuses mainly on the virtue of love. Sanctity is love, he asserts, and only that can give us what we all long for—deep and lasting joy. Central to all great religions is a striving toward holiness, moving toward perfect love, as the whole purpose of life. Kreeft shows what holiness is by using the insights and experiences of saints and great spiritual writers throughout history. He especially draws upon the spiritual classic Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, wherein the timeless gem is that God reveals himself to all of us through the daily events of our lives.--From statement at back cover