What exactly is a spiritual or faith journey, and how may we define it? The Simple Catholic blog and Dr. Scott Hahn’s book Holy Is His Name help us answer these questions. We can think of a spiritual journey as our entire life’s pilgrimage toward God. Our faith, a gift from God (CCC 153), teaches us that we are transformed over our life to be more like Jesus so that we are ready to reach our heavenly destination (Simple Catholic). Dr. Hahn writes that once baptized we become holy as adopted children of God, but conversion is not a once-in-a-lifetime event. It is a way of life.” (Hahn, 2022, p. 109).
As the Lord told Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites, and as Jesus told the disciples, we must strive to be perfect:
- “… you shall be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45).
- “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48).
These words can be difficult to absorb because It is not easy to understand how we could become perfect, given our tendency toward sin. Dr. Hahn explains: “God seemed to have commanded the impossible when he said ‘be holy for I am holy’ (Lev 11:45), because God’s holiness is, by definition, his otherness.” (Hahn, p. 102). But Jesus wants us to be holy as he did not only cover up our sins, he is empowering our conversion by his dwelling in us and our dwelling in him (Hahn, 2022, p. 104). God has given us the freedom to receive and keep the grace of holiness and faith. But he also gives us the freedom to end his life in us through mortal sin. (Hahn, 2022, p. 106; 109).
Simply stated we “must grow, pray, study, encourage, correct, witness, love, and obey.” Through baptism and the Eucharist we share in the holiness of divine life, but “striving should never cease until death, because sanctification is the will of God.” (Hahn, 2022, p. 109). We must continue on our journey to the Father, “blessed by the grace of Christ, guided by the Church, sustained by the sacraments.” (The Simple Catholic).
Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica (2nd ed.). Doubleday.
Hahn, S. (2022). Holy is His Name: The Transforming Power of God’s Holiness in Scripture. Emmaus Road Publishing.
The Simple Catholic. Pilgrims of Faith: A Catholic Journey Homeward. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://thesimplecatholic.blog/2025/04/09/pilgrims-of-faith-a-catholic-journey-homeward/
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