Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Gaudate et Exultate (Rejoice and Be Glad) is a rousing, sobering, and jubilant meditation on the call to holiness that each and every human being receives. This text is introduced by Robert Ellsberg, the venerable publisher of Orbis Books who sums up this new document from Pope Francis as: "Our great task in life is to discover and live out 'the message that God wants to speak to the world' by our lives."

Some may do this by their books and teachings like Thomas Merton, some might do it by serving the poor like Mother Teresa, and others will do their work with passion or take care of confused parents when they are elders. Even a woman who refuses to join in gossip earns the Pope's blessing for her small but poignant act of holiness.

One of the many interesting aspects of this presentation is that the Pope aims criticism of Gnosticism and Pelagianism — two false forms of holiness which were much on the minds of the early church fathers — towards Christianity, not outside it. Luckily Ellsberg is on hand to explain what he means by "the subtle enemies of holiness."

We cheered aloud after reading that the head of the Catholic Church salutes the teachings of the Beatitudes and the large role of joy and humor in the lives of Christians. Those who enjoyed the recent documentary Pope Francis — A Man of His Word will remember his affirmation of smiling and being of good cheer.

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