Holiness was their life project
Always trying to do the will of God, both in big and small things, the parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, the blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, gave the world the testimony of true joy: that of believing and living in Christ. Holiness was part of their life plan. Zelia wrote one day to her daughters Maria and Paolina: “I want to be holy. It won't be easy. There are a lot of rough edges to smooth out and the wood is as hard as stone." Holiness is the Christian life taken seriously. The life of the Martin couple resembles that of many families: a coexistence in which different temperaments try to adjust; a large family, a small company that causes many worries; the joys of home, the care of elderly parents; illness and bereavement, a faithful religious practice. Nothing extraordinary or heroic, yet their life was pervaded by the profound perception of the mysterious presence of God, by the conviction that everything works for the good of those who love God. If the Lord is present, if He loves us, why be afraid?

We need to go back to talking about holiness
The paths to holiness are personal, and to follow them requires a real pedagogy. I think of the world of young people, who are more distant than ever from the thought of holiness: language, attitudes, mentality, environment and behavior have nothing to do with the paths of holiness.
Holiness is a life project thought out and sought. And today, almost drowned in the culture of the immediate, talking about projects is a bit difficult. Yet holiness is true humanism, the answer to today's challenges. Holiness is not an addition, but a perspective that runs throughout life, the path to finding answers to the many challenges of today, the foundation for building the civilization of love. Holiness is true humanism. Whoever walks the path of holiness becomes more of a man. Holiness is called for everyone, indeed it is the only way to be Christian; with respect to this call there are no discounts, except by betraying the Christian life. There is no medium size, but only a “high size”. We know its charm when we encounter it in the men and women who live next to us, in the many simple people who live with intensity, with love, with disinterest; who know how to love even in difficult situations, and face the hardships of life with patience - not with resignation, but with hope; people who welcome life with gratitude, whatever it may be; people who know how to be close to others not only in a generous, but humble and simple way.

People like this tell us that holiness is possible
it is possible in the ordinary conditions of family, work, social and political relationships. Holiness is living with gratitude, recognizing the daily signs of the Lord who accompanies us. Holiness is living without calculation, with generosity and disinterest because the heart has found its wealth elsewhere; holiness is letting God forgive us and use mercy on us.
Holiness means not remaining, in the end, cheated by the laziness of our short-lived selfishness, like that master builder who had worked for many years for a large construction company. One day he received the order to build an exemplary villa according to a project he liked. He could build it wherever he liked and not worry about the expense. The work began soon. But, taking advantage of this blind trust, the master builder thought of using inferior materials, hiring less competent workers at a lower salary, and thus pocketing the sum saved. When the villa was finished, during a small party, the master builder gave the entrance key to the President of the company. The President returned it to him smiling and said, shaking his hand: "This villa is our gift to you as a sign of gratitude."