Memorial of St. John Neumann

A Catholic's integrity is their alignment with remaining in Christ.

1 John 3,22, And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit whom he gave us. 

1 John 4,6, Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God.

Matthew 4:17, From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Those who keep his commandments remain in him. 

The desire to share in God's love is the fuel for all endeavors. C.S. Lewis said, "Trying to find meaning or happiness apart from Him leaves us running on empty, leading to the search for a self that isn't there."

The purpose of human creation is to share in God's love as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Original sin led to a corruption of human nature and creation, resulting in a separation from God. God restored this kingdom through Jesus Christ. Baptism begins this process, providing a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. To fully experience the Kingdom of God through union with Christ, those who are baptized must engage with actual grace for daily blessing and sanctifying grace for purification. Once this response to the baptismal call succeeds, you will be 'Chosen' to partake in the process of purgation and realize it is Christ's peace and joy.

The experience of death is ultimately a solitary one and finding God's mercy is crucial at death time. A person has to face the phenomenon of the time of death. There are two kinds of death: either death to the world or physical death. The state of a person's integrity determines the pain at the time of death. A Catholic's integrity is proportionate to their alignment with remaining in Christ.There are different stages to develop this alignment. 

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 

Experiencing even a small part of the Kingdom of God can lead to a deeper longing, which in turn might make worldly life seem difficult or less fulfilling by comparison.  

There are five fundamental stages to to receive Him, ushering in God's kingdom. There will be fierce fight with evil forces in each stage.

The simplest method to progress through all stages of growth in the Kingdom of Heaven and enjoy the Fruits of each stage is by reciting four Rosaries each day and reflecting on all the mysteries of Christ and Mary. Christusway daily missal reflections can assist Catholics in effectively using the Rosary to develop an integrity that aligns with remaining in Christ and helps to attain the death of the righteous—a peaceful, blessed, and hopeful death.

 

Stage 1: Align with actual grace by receiving daily blessings in the physical realm by living a fundamental Catholic life. This alignment will help to realize the  the call to participate in the next stage.

Stage 2: Live a life to justify 'The Call' : Self purification in the Physical Realm by engaging with  Sanctifying Grace.

Next Stage,the reign of sanctifying grace begins once you have built an unbroken habit of praying four Rosaries daily for years. 

Stage 3: Chosen for Purgation, with sanctifying grace facilitating the purification process.

Stage 4: Illumination at spiritual realm :  Inner person growing and outer person decreasing.

Stage 5: Union, where grace is demonstrated through actions as results.

The desire for God is written in the human heart.  This can fulfill only in the life cycle of a Catholic. 

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), God created humans to share in his love and they are ultimately destined for a life of communion with Him in the Kingdom of God. This vocation is the fundamental reason for human dignity.

C.S. Lewis famously stated  that humans are like machines designed to run on God as their fuel; trying to find meaning or happiness apart from Him leaves us running on empty, leading to the search for a self that isn't there. Humans have an innate need for God as their ultimate source of purpose, fulfillment, and happiness, that cannot run properly on anything else.

All human endeavors are a desire to manifest a true sense of self, the expression of the inner person, a goal that can fulfill only in the life cycle of a Catholic. 

All human endeavors—career, relationships, creativity, even material pursuits—are often driven by an underlying, often unconscious, search for meaning, purpose, and a true sense of self, leading to greater well-being, authenticity, and connection, even if we start by seeking it externally. It’s about moving from external validation to internal understanding, finding peace and purpose by aligning actions with one's core values, using practices like mindfulness, reflection, and honest self-assessment to fill that inner void.  

Innate Desire for God: CCC 27 states, "The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself".
Restless Heart: St. Augustine famously said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee," highlighting this inherent yearning.
"De-Sire" ,'Of the Father', The Latin root of "desire" suggests it comes from God, pointing us to our purpose.
Psalm 37,4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" is interpreted as God fulfilling the pure, God-given desires as we delight in Him, not selfish whims.

Discernment is Key: The Catechism distinguishes between desires of the flesh (sinful) and desires of the Spirit, urging us to align our will with God's, not indulge every impulse.

A key aspect of a Fundamental Catholic life is understanding actual grace for everyday blessings. As you receive more blessings, you gain a deeper understanding of their source. Ultimately, you come to realize that nothing matters; only blessing matters. This understanding of actual grace opens the door for purgation, facilitating a deeper union with Christ.

  

A fundamental Catholic life can enhance your connection with the Church, the saints, and, through them, the Holy Mother. This experience takes place on a physical realm , within the context of Actual Grace present in the Church.