"If you are who you are meant to be you will set the world ablaze." - St. Catherine of Siena

Our Lord has created persons for all states in life, and in all of them we see people who achieved sanctity by fulfilling their obligations well.--St. Anthony Mary Claret

(Rom 1:1-7)Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are "called to holiness" (Rm 1:7). The secular culture cherishes the idea that holiness restricts our desires, implying that holy people are not free to do what they "really" want. However, "God has not called us to immorality but to holiness" (1 Thes 4:7). Only the holy "live in freedom — but not a freedom that gives free rein to the flesh" (Gal 5:13).

"It is God's will that you grow in holiness" (1 Thes 4:3). Yet "there is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle" (Catechism, 2015). There is a saying: "The more I say 'No' to myself, the more I find myself saying 'Yes' to the Holy Spirit." What we learn from that is, by self-denial, what we gain is far more fulfilling than what he renounce.

We can't become holy by our own efforts or will. What we can do is let the Spirit make us holy. The Spirit fights against our sinful desires and gives us holy desires (Gal 5:17). If we desire to be holy, we will be, for Jesus promises: "Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill" (Mt 5:6).

God wants to "share His holiness" with you (Heb 12:10). Answer the call to holiness (Rm 1:7). "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22). Be made holy as God is holy (1 Pt 1:16).