Gaudete Et Exsultate - Apostolic Exhortation - Rejoice and Be Glad - On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World

Oct 13, 2026

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Gaudete Et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad) is an apostolic exhortation urging readers to respond to the call to holiness in today’s world. It reframes holiness as practical, lived obedience rather than abstract theory, emphasizing that the Lord asks everything while offering true life and happiness. The text guides believers through the saints’ example, warns against two subtle enemies of holiness, and develops themes of spiritual combat, discernment, perseverance, and joyful witness in community and prayer.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages120

Reading Time5 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

"Rejoice and Be Glad"

Chapter One: The Call to Holiness

Chapter Two: Two Subtle Enemies of Holiness

Chapter Three: In the Light of the Master

Chapter Four: Signs of Holiness in Today’s World

Chapter Five: Spiritual Combat, Vigilance and Discernment

POPE FRANCIS GAUDETEET EXSULTATE (Rejoice and Be Glad)APOSTOLIC EXHORTATIONON THE CALLTO HOLINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD ST PAULS APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE (Rejoice and Be Glad) OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON THE CALL TO HOLINESSIN TODAY’S WORLD ST PAULS 2016 LibreriaEditrice Vaticana00120 Citta'del Vaticanowww.vatican.va ◎2016 ST PAULS PUBLISHINGST PAULS by Westminster CathedralMorpeth Terrace,VictoriaLondon SW1P1EPPh:+44(0)2079784300www.stpauls.org.uk St Pauls Publishing Moyglare Road,Maynooth,Co.Kildare,IrelandPh:+353(1)6285933www.stpauls.ie All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproducedor transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic ormechanical,including photocopying,recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission inwriting from the publisher. ISBN:978-1-910365-434 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the BritishLibrary. Cover Design by Shinto Joseph sspPrinted by Bishops Printers Ltd.,Portsmouth ST PAULS is an activity of the priests and brothers of theSociety of St Paul who proclaim the Gospel through the mediaof social communication. CONTENTS “REJOICE AND BE GLAD”[1-2]………………………………………07 Chapter One THE CALL TO HOLINESS THE SAINTS WHO ENCOURAGE AND AccOMPANY US [3-5……………………………………………09 THE SAINTS“NEXT DOOR”[6-9]……………………………………10 THE LORD CALIS [10-13………………………………………………………13 FoR YOU TO0 [14-18……………………………………………………………15 YoUR MISSION IN CHRIST[19-24………………………………………19 AcTIVITY THAT SANCTIFIES [25-31] …………………………………2 MORE ALIVE,MORE HUMAN [32-34|………………………………25 Chapter Two TWO SUBTLE ENEMIES OF HOLINESS CoNTEMPORARY GNOSTICISM [36………………………………………30 An intellect without God and without fesh [37-39…………………………………………30 A doctrine without mystery [40-42] …………………………………32 The limits of reason [4346……………………………………………3 CONTEMPORARY PELAGIANISM [47-48………………………………36 A will lacking bumility [49-51………………………………………37 An often overlooked Cburch teaching [52-56…………………40 New pelagians [57-59…………………………………………………43 The summation of the Law [60-62]……………………………45 Chapter Three IN THE LIGHT OF THE MASTER GOING AGAINST THE FLOW [65-66…………………………………50 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of beaven”[67-70]…………………………………………50 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inberit the earth”[71-74]…………………………52 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”[75-76……………………………………54 "Blessed are those wbo bunger and thirst for rigbteousness, for they will be filled”[77-79…………………………………………55 "Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mergy”[80-82…………………………………57 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”[83-86……………………………………………58 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”[87-89…………………60 "Blessed are tbose wbo are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of beaven”[90-94…………………62 THE GREAT CRITERION [95] ……………………………………………65 In fidelity to the Master [96-9………………………………………65 Ideologies striking at the heart of the Gospel [100-103……………………………………………………………67 The worsbip most acceptable to God [104-109. ……………71 Chapter Four SIGNS OF HOLINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD PERSEVERANCE,PATIENCE AND MEEKNESS [112-121] ……76 JoY AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR [122-128]………………………82 BoLDNESS AND PASSION [129-139…………………………………86 IN COMMUNITY [140-146………………………………………………91 IN CONSTANT PRAYER[147-157……………………………………96 Chapter Five SPIRITUAL COMBAT,VIGILANCE AND DISCERNMENT COMBAT AND VIGILANCE [159] ……………………………………103 More than a myth [160-161………………………………………104 Alert and trustful [162-163]………………………………………106 Spiritual corruption [164-165…………………………………107 DISCERNMENT [166………………………………………………………108 An urgent need [167-168……………………………………………109 Always in the ligbt of the Lord [169…………………………10 A supernatural gift [170-171……………………………………11 Speak, Lord [172-173…………………………………………12 The logic of the gif

FAQs

What is the purpose of Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad)?

It reproposes the call to holiness in a practical way for the present time, responding to risks, challenges, and opportunities. The exhortation presents holiness as true life and real happiness.

How does the exhortation describe the call to holiness?

It presents holiness as something present from the Bible’s early pages, expressed in the Lord’s words and the saints who encourage and accompany believers. It calls readers to be saints rather than settling for a bland and mediocre existence.

What main threats to holiness does the text warn about?

It identifies two subtle enemies of holiness: contemporary gnosticism and contemporary pelagianism. Each is described through specific spiritual distortions that undermine humility, mystery, and the worship most acceptable to God.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Noah