GAUDETE ET

EXSULTATE
 INTRODUCTION

 APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION GAUDETE ET

EXSULTATE (REJOICE AND BE GLAD): ON
THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY’S
WORLD.

 THE DOCUMENT CHALLENGES THE WHOLE

CHURCH TO PROMOTE ANEW THE DESIRE
FOR HOLINESS – IN A PRACTICAL WAY, FOR
OUR OWN TIME.
 INTRODUCTION

 THE LATIN TITLE, “REJOICE AND BE GLAD”,

COMES FROM MATTHEW 5:12, PART OF THE
SERMON ON THE MOUNT - “REJOICE AND BE
GLAD, FOR YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN
HEAVEN”.

 THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT FIGURES

HEAVILY INTO THE DOCUMENT, PROVIDING
A SORT OF “ROADMAP” TO HOLINESS.
 INTRODUCTION
 GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE IS AN APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION.
 IN RANKING THE AUTHORITY OF CHURCH DOCUMENTS, PAPAL
ENCYCLICALS ARE THE 2ND MOST IMPORTANT PAPAL
DOCUMENT AND USUALLY CONCERNS AN ASPECT OF
CATHOLIC DOCTRINE.
 AN APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION DOES NOT HOLD EQUAL
WEIGHT WITH A PAPAL ENCYCLICAL, IT GIVES A FORMAL
INSTRUCTION, URGING FOR A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY. IT DOES NOT
DEFINE A DOCTRINE.
 GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE.
 DISCUSS ASPECTS OF OUR LIVED CATHOLIC EXPERIENCE
RATHER THAN HIGHLY THEOLOGICAL OR DOCTRINAL
CONCEPTS AND ISSUES.
 TREATS HOLINESS IN A DOWN-TO-EARTH, PRACTICAL MANNER,
ASKING “WHAT MUST ONE DO TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN IN
THE 21ST CENTURY?”
 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
BEFORE THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL (1962-1965),
MANY BELIEVED THAT THE ‘CALL’ TO HOLINESS WAS
BASICALLY RESERVED TO CONSECRATED PEOPLE -
PRIESTS, NUNS, AND THOSE IN “FORMAL” SERVICE TO
THE CHURCH.

FOR VATICAN II, HOLINESS, IS FOR EVERYONE, AND

“ALL THE FAITHFUL OF CHRIST OF WHATEVER RANK OR
STATUS, ARE CALLED TO THE FULLNESS OF THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE AND TO THE PERFECTION OF
CHARITY.” (LUMEN GENTIUM, 40).
 GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE
POPE FRANCIS CONTINUES THIS TRAIN OF
THOUGHT OF VATICAN II:
HOLINESS IS NOT A LOFTY IDEAL.
HOLINESS IS LOVE LIVED TO THE FULL IN
THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS AND
SITUATIONS OF EVERY PERSON’S LIFE,
THROUGH BOTH “BIG” AND SMALL ACTS;
THAT LOVE, FOR US TO TRULY BE ABLE TO
CALL IT "HOLY", MUST NECESSARILY
EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE HERE ON EARTH.
GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE
 GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE

 NOTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT IS RADICAL OR

OUT OF STEP WITH CHURCH TEACHING.
 IT SYNTHESIZE CURRENT TRENDS AFFECTING
US AS MODERN PEOPLE WITH PARTICULARLY
HELPFUL INSIGHTS FROM OUR "EVER ANCIENT,
YET EVER NEW" FAITH.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS
 CHAPTER 1

 THE CALL TO HOLINESS = FOR ALL THE FAITHFUL

 HOLINESS = NONE OTHER THAN CHARITY LIVED TO THE FULL, AS
EXEMPLIFIED BY THE SAINTS AND saints next door = THESE
WITNESSES MAY INCLUDE OUR OWN MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS
OR OTHER LOVED ONES. 
 HOLINESS IS NECESSARY FOR OUR HAPPINESS – IN ORDER TO
BRING OUT THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AND TO EMBRACE THE
UNIQUE PLAN OF GOD FOR US AND FOR THE WORLD.
 HOLINESS ENTAILS ACTION = IT IS ACHIEVED IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN, OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND US AND
THE WIDER SUFFERING OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
 CHAPTER 1

GIVES PRACTICAL ADVICE HOW TO LIVE A

HOLY LIFE BY CITING EXAMPLES OF HOLY
LIVES:
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX -
HOLINESS BY “DOING THE SMALL THINGS.”
 CHAPTER 1

ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA:

”FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS.”
 CHAPTER 1

ST. PHILIP NERI:

RENOWNED FOR HIS SENSE OF

HUMOR – HOLINESS IN JOY
 CHAPTER 2
ENEMIES OF HOLINESS = TWO FALSE FORMS OF HOLINESS
THAT CAN LEAD US ASTRAY: GNOSTICISM AND PELAGIANISM.
GNOSTICISM = BELIEVES IN SPECIAL SET OF KNOWLEDGE FOR
THE ELECT. CHARITY IS NOT IMPORTANT.
WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT YOU KNOW, THUS A PURELY
SUBJECTIVE FAITH. BY GNOSTICISM WE BECOME INCAPABLE
OF TOUCHING CHRIST’S SUFFERING FLESH IN OTHERS.
THEIR EXPLANATIONS CAN MAKE ENTIRETY OF FAITH AND
GOSPEL PERFECTLY COMPREHENSIBLE = DOCTRINE WITHOUT
MYSTERY.
ST. FRANCIS TO ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA = TEACH THEOLOGY
BUT DO NOT EXTINGUISH PRAYER AND DEVOTION.
ST. BONAVENTURE = CHRISTIAN WISDOM CANNOT BE
SEPARATED FROM MERCY TO NEIGHBOR.
CONTEMPLATION FACILITATES WORKS OF MERCY.
 CHAPTER 2
 ENEMIES OF HOLINESS = FALSE FORMS OF
HOLINESS
 PELAGIANISM = SALVATION ACHIEVED THROUGH
OUR OWN EFFORTS AND WILL.
 NO NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE TO BE SAVED, ONLY
THROUGH WORKS OF CHARITY.
 A WILL THAT IS LACKING HUMILITY.
 WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHO
ALWAYS TAKES THE INITIATIVE.
 TO AVOID THESE = HIERARCHY OF VIRTUES WILL
HELP US SEEK THE ESSENTIAL, AND PRIMACY
BELONG TO THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES.
 CHAPTER 3
IN LIGHT OF THE MASTER
WHAT CONSTITUTES HOLINESS? MANY THEORIES,
BUT JESUS’ WORDS ARE MORE ENLIGHTENING!
EXPLAINED WITH GREAT SIMPLICITY.
BEATITUDES = IDENTITY CARD OF A CHRISTIAN =
WHAT MUST ONE DO TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN?
HAPPY/BLESSED SYNONYMOUS WITH HOLY =
THOSE FAITHFUL TO GOD BY THEIR SELF-GIVING
GAIN TRUE HAPPINESS.
BEATITUDES = HAPPY AND HOLY PEOPLE NEVER
RELY ON THEIR STRENGTH, BUT THEY SEE GOD IN
THEIR WEAKNESS.
 CHAPTER 4
SIGNS OF HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD
 WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF BEATITUDES = POPE FRANCIS OFFERS FIVE GREAT
EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE OF GOD AND OF NEIGHBOR THAT HE CONSIDERS OF
PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN THE LIGHT OF CERTAIN DANGERS AND LIMITATIONS
PRESENT IN TODAY’S CULTURE.
 THESE SIGNS OF TRUE HOLINESS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GIVE A WITNESS OF
HOLINESS IN OUR FAST-PACED, NOISY AND AGGRESSIVE WORLD.
 IF WE CONTEMPLATE/APPRECIATE THE MODELS OF HOLINESS AND IF WE STRIVE TO
LIVE THE BEATITUDES, WHAT SIGNS WILL BE SEEN IN OUR LIVES WHICH
DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH?
 IF WE ARE EATING THE RIGHT FOODS, WE WILL FEEL WELL AND LOSE WEIGHT. IF
WE ARE GETTING ENOUGH REST, WE WILL FEEL BETTER AND THINK CLEARLY. SO
WHAT SIGNS WILL WE SEE IN OUR LIVES IF WE ARE ON THE PATH TO HOLINESS?
 CHAPTER 4
SIGNS OF HOLINESS IN TODAY’S WORLD
SIGNS THAT WE ARE ON THE PATH TO HOLINESS:
1. PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE AND MEEKNESS
2. JOY AND A SENSE OF HUMOR
3. BOLDNESS AND PASSION
THESE POSITIVE SIGNS ARE BEST NURTURED:
4. IN COMMUNITY (140, AND ESP. 144-145)
5. BY PRAYER (WHICH INCLUDES SILENCE, ART, MUSIC, PETITION,
WORSHIP (CF. 150-151) AND SACRAMENTS.
 PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE AND
MEEKNESS
• THE FIRST OF THESE GREAT SIGNS IS SOLID GROUNDING IN
THE GOD WHO LOVES AND SUSTAINS US.
• PERSEVERANCE = THIS SOURCE OF INNER STRENGTH
ENABLES US TO PERSEVERE AMID LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS,
….TO ENDURE HOSTILITY, BETRAYAL AND FAILINGS ON THE
PART OF OTHERS. THIS IS THE SOURCE OF PEACE FOUND IN
THE SAINTS.
• I HAVE FAITH IN GOD, AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ALWAYS
WITH ME. MY FAITH SHOULD MAKE ME FAITHFUL TO
OTHERS. I DO NOT ABANDON THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
(112)
 PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE AND
MEEKNESS
• PERSEVERANCE = (INNER STRENGTH) MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
GIVE WITNESS TO HOLINESS THROUGH PATIENCE AND CONSTANCY IN
DOING GOOD.
• PERSEVERANCE = (INNER STRENGTH) PREVENTS US FROM BEING
CARRIED AWAY BY VIOLENCE.
• THIS BRINGS MEEKNESS/HUMILITY WHICH FOLLOWS JESUS THROUGH
THE HUMILIATIONS OF LIFE TO A HEART OF COMPASSION. HUMILITY
CAN ONLY TAKE ROOT IN THE HEART THROUGH HUMILIATIONS.
• SAINTS DO NOT WASTE ENERGY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAILINGS
OF OTHERS; AVOID THE VERBAL VIOLENCE THAT DEMEANS AND
MISTREATS OTHERS, NOW IN THE INTERNET.
• THE WORLD MAY MOCK SUCH BEHAVIOR BUT CHRIST ENCOURAGES US
TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS, NOT THE WORLD.
 JOY AND A SENSE OF HUMOR
• HOLINESS DOES NOT LEAD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE “MOROSE OR
DREARY.” HOLINESS LEADS TO AUTHENTIC JOY. THIS JOY
LEADS TO GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING.
• THE SAINTS ARE JOYFUL AND FULL OF GOOD HUMOR.
• THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS “JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT” (ROM 14:17),
FOR “THE NECESSARY RESULT OF THE LOVE OF CHARITY IS JOY.
• JOY IS NOT EQUAL TO FUN.
• AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, WHEREVER THE DISCIPLES WENT,
THERE WAS “MUCH JOY” (ACTS 8:8). JESUS ASSURES US: “YOU
WILL BE SORROWFUL, BUT YOUR SORROW WILL TURN INTO
JOY… I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN AND YOUR HEARTS WILL REJOICE,
AND NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR JOY FROM YOU” (JN 16:20.22).
 JOY AND A SENSE OF HUMOR
• HARD TIMES MAY COME, YET NOTHING CAN DESTROY THE
SUPERNATURAL JOY THAT ALWAYS ENDURES, BORN OF OUR
PERSONAL CERTAINTY THAT, WHEN EVERYTHING IS SAID AND
DONE, WE ARE INFINITELY LOVED.
• JOY BRINGS DEEP SECURITY, SERENE HOPE AND A SPIRITUAL
FULFILMENT THAT THE WORLD CANNOT UNDERSTAND OR
APPRECIATE.
• CHRISTIAN JOY IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A SENSE OF HUMOR.
WE RECEIVE SO MUCH FROM THE LORD “FOR OUR ENJOYMENT” (1
TIM 6:17), THAT SADNESS CAN BE A SIGN OF INGRATITUDE.
• JOY IN COMMUNION WITH OTHERS THAT SHARES AND IS SHARED IN
GIVING AND RECEIVING, INCREASES OUR CAPACITY FOR JOY SINCE
IT MAKES US CAPABLE OF REJOICING IN THE GOOD OF OTHERS.
 BOLDNESS AND PASSION

• HOLINESS IS BOLDNESS IN WORD (PARRHESIA) AND

ACTION (PASSION) = AN IMPULSE TO EVANGELIZE AND TO
LEAVE A MARK IN THIS WORLD.
• HOW OFTEN WE ARE TEMPTED TO KEEP CLOSE TO THE
SHORE! YET THE LORD CALLS US TO PUT OUT INTO THE
DEEP AND LET DOWN OUR NETS (CF. LK 5:4). HE BIDS US
SPEND OUR LIVES IN HIS SERVICE AND TO PUT ALL OUR
CHARISMS (GIFTS) AT THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
• HE IMPELS US CONSTANTLY TO PASS BEYOND WHAT IS
FAMILIAR, TO THE FRINGES AND BEYOND. HE TAKES US
TO WHERE HUMANITY IS MOST WOUNDED, WHERE MEN
AND WOMEN, CONTINUE TO SEEK AN ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION OF LIFE’S MEANING.
 BOLDNESS AND PASSION

• COMPLACENCY IS SEDUCTIVE; IT TELLS US THAT THERE

IS NO POINT IN TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS, BECAUSE
THIS IS THE WAY THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.
• BY FORCE OF HABIT WE NO LONGER STAND UP TO EVIL.
WE “LET THINGS BE”, OR AS OTHERS HAVE DECIDED
THEY OUGHT TO BE.
• LET US ASK THE LORD FOR THE GRACE TO RESPOND
EAGERLY AND POSITIVELY WHEN THE SPIRIT CALLS US
TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD. LET US ASK FOR THE
APOSTOLIC COURAGE TO STOP TRYING TO MAKE OUR
CHRISTIAN LIFE A MUSEUM OF MEMORIES.
• TO CONSTANTLY WELCOME THE LORD’S SURPRISES.
THESE POSITIVE SIGNS ARE BEST
NURTURED:
1. IN COMMUNITY (140, AND ESP. 144-145)
2. BY PRAYER (WHICH INCLUDES
SILENCE, ART, MUSIC, PETITION,
WORSHIP (CF. 150-151) AND
SACRAMENTS.
 IN COMMUNITY
• GROWTH IN HOLINESS IS A JOURNEY IN COMMUNITY,
SIDE BY SIDE WITH OTHERS. WE LEARN FROM OTHERS.
WE RECEIVE SUPPORT AND AFFIRMATION AND WE
SUPPORT OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.
• BE IT RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OR MARRIED COUPLES
AND THEIR FAMILIES. LIVING AND WORKING
ALONGSIDE OTHERS IS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING AND
PRACTICING HOLINESS.
• ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS, “YOU
ARE LIVING WITH OTHERS IN ORDER TO BE FASHIONED
AND TRIED”. WE ALL NEED A LITTLE PRUNING, SOME
MORE THAN OTHERS.
 IN COMMUNITY

• THE GROWING CONSUMERIST INDIVIDUALISM

TENDS TO ISOLATE US IN A QUEST FOR WELL-
BEING APART FROM OTHERS, OUR PATH TO
HOLINESS CHALLENGES US WITH JESUS’
PRAYER “THAT ALL MAY BE ONE.”
• LIVING HOLINESS IN COMMUNITY IS MADE UP
OF SMALL EVERYDAY THINGS.
• A COMMUNITY THAT CHERISHES THE LITTLE
DETAILS OF LOVE, WHOSE MEMBERS CARE
FOR ONE ANOTHER.
 IN CONSTANT PRAYER
• POPE FRANCIS URGES US TO BE PEOPLE OF CONSTANT
PRAYER, ECHOING ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE
THESSALONIANS, “WE URGE YOU, SUPPORT THE WEAK, BE
PATIENT WITH ALL…ALWAYS SEEK WHAT IS GOOD FOR
EACH OTHER. REJOICE ALWAYS. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.”
(I THES: 17)
• POPE FRANCIS QUOTES ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, ” TRY TO
BE CONTINUOUS IN PRAYER, WHETHER YOU EAT, DRINK,
TALK WITH OTHERS, OR DO ANYTHING, ALWAYS GO TO GOD
AND ATTACH YOUR HEART TO HIM”
• “FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, HOWEVER, SOME MOMENTS SPENT
ALONE WITH GOD ARE ALSO NECESSARY. TRUST-FILLED
PRAYER IS A RESPONSE OF A HEART OPEN TO
ENCOUNTERING GOD FACE TO FACE.”
 IN CONSTANT PRAYER
• IN ADDITION TO PRAYERS OF ADORATION AND
THANKSGIVING, POPE FRANCIS ENCOURAGES PRAYERS
OF SUPPLICATION. “THESE PRAYERS ARE ALSO
WELCOMED BY GOD AND ACKNOWLEDGES OUR
COMPLETE TRUST AND DEPENDENCE ON OUR
CREATOR.”
• PRAYER OF INTERCESSION HAS PARTICULAR VALUE,
FOR IT IS AN ACT OF TRUST IN GOD AND, AT THE SAME
TIME, AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
• INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR
FRATERNAL CONCERN FOR OTHERS, SINCE WE ARE
ABLE TO EMBRACE THEIR LIVES, THEIR DEEPEST
TROUBLES, AND THEIR LOFTIEST DREAMS.
 CHAPTER 5
SPIRITUAL COMBAT, VIGILANCE AND
DISCERNMENT
• POPE FRANCIS WARNS OF DANGERS ON THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
• DANGERS IN FALSE FORMS OF HOLINESS, VIOLENCE IN OUR THOUGHTS
AND DAILY LIVES, CONSUMERISM AS WELL AS THE VERY REAL AND
PRESENT DANGER OF SATAN HIMSELF.
• THE POPE ASKS US TO DISCERN ANY TRACES OF THESE BLOCKS TO
HOLINESS IN OUR LIVES AND WARNS US NOT TO LET OUR GUARD DOWN –
OUR PATH TO HOLINESS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
• POPE FRANCIS CONCLUDES BY CALLING ON MARY’S INTERCESSION TO
HELP ALL WALK WITH JESUS TOWARD HOLINESS. MARY IS A MODEL FOR
THAT HOLINESS: “SHE LIVED THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS AS NONE OTHER.”