How to Be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a Saint

Book title: How to be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a SaintAuthor: Peter KreeftSan Francisco, Ignatius Press, 2016Number of pages: 170From the way the title reads, you’d think someone has descended from a mountain top, some wise and holy guru, to condescend to tell us lowland commoners how to live to be like him and/or Mother Theresa.But that isn’t the case according to author Peter Kreeft: “This book is not a great chef serving up a gourmet dinner; it is one desperately poor bum telling another where there’s free food.”I love this quote. It definitely sets the tone for the book. Kreeft writes about the relationship between God and flawed man without sounding religious or beating up the reader (me/you) with guilt. I read this felt I could actually be holy. Holy is in reach.Kreeft didn’t come holiness from the familiar, Calvinistic angle where you just need to believe all the right stuff. In so many books I read in my camp of evangelicals, they peddle a theology of holiness that believing all the correct dogma and creeds rather than doing good deeds. That, of course, makes me argumentative and leaves me feeling frustrated which isn’t a very holy feeling. I always walk away wondering how rock star preachers portray themselves as heroically holier than everybody else making people feel like “if only I was like him… but I’m not… oh well, I guess I’ll never measure up.” Their brand of holiness is somehow wrapped up in the size of their platform and giant warehouse church. You just know that you, a commoner, alas, will never be like them.Maybe that’s a good thing.But here’s what Kreeft is saying: holiness for the common man. That’s the topic this book explores. If you want it, you can have. Because you want it, it’s attainable with God’s help. God wants to help and will help as often as you reach for help. Every saint that’s attained sainthood started where you and I are right now in this moment when you’re reading this.Kreeft covers the topic by asking this overarching question: “Which is more important, justification or sanctification (in terms of Christian theology)? Being saved or being saintly?”Here’s one of the conclusions he comes to (I love this paragraph):“Faith, which justifies us, is like a root. Hope, which expands us, is like a shoot. Love, which perfects us, is like a shoot. Which of these three equally necessary parts of the growing plant of our spiritual life is more important? Read 1 Corinthians 13 for the answer. The whole point of the root and the shoot is the fruit. The rest of the plant is for the fruit. The fruit is not an afterthought, an extra, an accident. Sanctification is to justification what babies are to sex.”Life isn’t to be lived just so we get to go to heaven. Life is to be lived to do stuff for God the way Jesus did. The Holy Spirit stands ready to help us do this. We just need to get in on it. Get in line. Step up to the plate and be willing to take a swing.The book is broken into short chapters designed to give you something to think about as you’re getting your day going. There’s a chapter called “God as your Guru.” That’s because nobody ever became holy on his own, you need a coach. Why not God?There are a bunch of chapters with one word titles: Methods; Unselfconsciousness; Peace; Failures; Suffering; Grace; Detachment; Creation; Gratitude.Some of the other chapters are as descriptive but have a few more words in their titles. Love and Sex; The Future; Little Things; Spiritual Warfare; Holiness is Easy. Not in this order. But you can see by this list that this is a book you want to read because you need to get some of these things up and running.Oh, no? Is that because I didn’t mention this title: “Objection: I can’t be a Saint”? This chapter will also help: ‘When to find God: “The Sacrament of the of the Present Moment”. This was probably the most practical and thought provoking chapter I read. I didn’t list them in order because you really don’t have to read the chapters in order for this to work. Don’t tell Kreeft I said that. But once you spend the money on the book, it’s yours. Go crazy.

I first purchased the Kindle edition simply because I like Kreeft's writing and was curious about the title. Today I have ordered 3 paperbacks to give as gifts! I wanted to write a solid review for this book, and I have been sitting at my desk writing for 30 minutes. But I cannot find the words to use for this book that weaves together solid theology, philosophy, and common sense to bring renewed hope and love into our lives. It is a book you can give to ANYONE--believer or not! It is written simply, but in a way you will have to re-read the page as you ask yourself: "Is this for real?" He has his own sense of humor that he interjects at just the right time to make a point that zings to your heart. You will laugh...there are moments you will stop for a while to reflect...you will cry...you will pray. It is one of those volumes that will be by my chair along with my Bible and Catechism to be read over and over. I recommend it to anyone with one word of caution: you won't be able to stop with one book, you will quickly want to share it with friends, family, and neighbors. Kreeft has made the Good News clear, desirable, and share-able! Your heart will find love, hope and renewal! Turn off the tv and give Kreeft ten minutes a day for two weeks---it will change your life!!!

Peter never ceases to amaze me. He can take the most difficult subject and make it understandable. But, on the other hand, he can write a short sentence that requires several readings to even begin to understand.

Simple but profound advice on how to be a truly holy person. Anyone who aspires to following Jesus will love this very accessible book. My spiritual director recommended it, and she cautioned me not to just dismiss it as "too easy," or "beneath me" --which was good advice because at first glance, it seems very basic. But read a little bit at a time and let it sink it... it's making a difference in my life.

This is one of Peter Kreeft's finest. Challenging, profound yet simple. Destined to be a spiritual classic.

Read many of his books. Like his easy writing slyle. As always, Dr. Kreeft delivers. I love his insights, ways to get be to think about things. I plan to savor this book. Reading it slowly and reflecting. I know that I want to reread it a few times to really have it sink in.

This is a program for being, or I should say for becoming holy, healthy, sane. Kreeft has done a great job here in setting out a clear map to living a healthy life while following the road to Heaven. He takes the Gospel, philosophy, and common sense and shows us how to continually grow closer to God. The book is easy to read and user friendly. This is a wonderful summery of all of Kreeft's good work.

Will give you much to ponder. Packed full of wisdom but understandable for those of us without doctorates in theology or philosophy. Dr. Kreeft is an excellent teacher. And funny too!

I very much enjoyed this book because it answered many of my own questions that I was too afraid to ask. It put many of my fears into perspective.Highly recommended for anyone who is fearful of becoming a saint.

Peter Kreeft is an excellent example of someone who can write complicated things in a very simple way. I have read second Caussade and several books based on abandonment to Divine Providence and this has to be the best. It leaves me no option but to continue along the road and become a Saint. Thank you for showing me the simplicity of the task ahead of us all and for convincing me of its absolute possibility.

I found this book to be a deep and profound work. It took me a while to get into it. I found the writing to be a bit abstract. Took me a bit to figure out what Kreeft's point in each of the chapters were. Some chapters were harder to understand than others. But all in all, I found that persevering to finish reading the entire book was well worth the effort. There were definitely nuggets of wisdom in "How To Be Holy". An abundant simply of wisdom nuggets. What I liked about how this book was set up was that each chapter was stand alone. And short, just a couple of pages each chapter. So I read a chapter and prayed about it. Then I would pick it up later, read another chapter, pray about it, and put the book down for a while. Repeat. It's a keeper, I will need to read this a bunch of times to fully grasp it's depth.

I found this book very interesting and important for my personal growth in the relation with the Lord. I would like to see this book translated into italian!

A good road map written for everyday people like me on how to improve our spiritual lives. Classic Kreeft. A good story-teller, who writes clearly from a philosophical point of view. Easy to read.