Be a Saint -- 12 Rules for Holiness with guide – Maximilian Kolbe
Rule 1: You must be a saint. This is your purpose in life, and everything else should be secondary to achieving the highest possible level of holiness, because your holiness at the moment of death is what you will have for all eternity.
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Rule 2: Seek the greatest possible glory of God by working for your own salvation and sanctification and the salvation and sanctification of others. Work hard to save souls and glorify God, trusting that Our Lady wants this to happen even more than you do.
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Rule 3: Make up your mind to never commit a single mortal sin, nor even a deliberate venial sin.Deliberate venial sin is a great obstacle to holiness, and it is better to lose anything, even life, than to offend God with even a single venial sin.
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Rule 4: Don’t let any evil go without reparation and seize every opportunity to do good, because you will be judged for the good you did and failed to do, as well as for the evil you could have prevented.
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Rule 5: Your primary rule is obedience to God’s holy will. Embrace and act on God’s will as soon as you know it, because God wants it and in the way God wants it.
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Rule 6: Focus on God’s unique and individual will for you in the present moment and give yourself to it wholeheartedly, without distraction from what others are doing or what you could be doing.
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Rule 7: Seek a peaceful activity and an active peace. Peace is the conviction that you are doing what Our Lady wants, even if it means discomfort or challenges, and doing things you don’t want to for the love of her.
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Rule 8: Preserve order in your daily life to avoid wasting time, because every moment wasted is gone forever. Mortify your senses and forgo things that are not truly useful to make time for what is necessary.
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Rule 9: Invoke Our Lady before, during, and after all actions. Make Mary and her name a part of every moment of your life.
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Rule 10: Once you consecrate yourself to Our Lady, you belong to her always, in every circumstance, and everything you have also belongs to her. Surrender to her completely, trust that she will use your prayers better than you can, and leave all concerns for yourself and your loved ones to her.
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Rule 11: Remember, you can do all things in Him who strengthens you through the Immaculate. Have confidence in God and Our Lady.
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Rule 12: To have a true interior life and to fulfill Christ’s commandment to love your neighbour, you must be master of yourself in order to serve others, seeking to do the will of your neighbor as long as it is good and holy, and loving Jesus and Mary in your neighbor.
Finished
Guide to Holiness: 12 Rules for Becoming a Saint
This guide combines Biblical references, Catholic quotes from the saints, and visual descriptions to inspire and direct your journey toward holiness.
Each rule is rooted in Scripture and tradition, supported by wisdom from the saints, and illustrated with a vivid image to help you internalize its spiritual truth.
Rule 1: You Must Be a Saint
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48
Holiness is not optional—it is your calling. Heaven is not for the mediocre, but for those who have been transformed by grace.
Catholic Quote:
“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire!” – St. Catherine of Siena
Visual Description:
Imagine a mountaintop bathed in golden light, where a solitary figure stands with arms raised toward heaven. Around them, sparks rise like embers, igniting the dark valleys below. The fire spreads across nations, continents, souls—each flame born from one person’s decision to become a saint.
St Catherine of Siena mystical vision
Rule 2: Seek the Greatest Possible Glory of God
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Your life must be a living sacrifice, offered not for personal gain, but to draw others to Christ.
Catholic Quote:
“Love God, serve God; everything is in that.” – St. Clare of Assisi
Visual Description:
Picture a great cathedral made of human lives, each person a stone perfectly placed by God. At the center, Christ is enthroned, and Mary holds a lantern, lighting the way for souls to enter. Every act of kindness, prayer, and sacrifice adds beauty to this eternal structure.
Rule 3: Never Commit Mortal or Deliberate Venial Sin
“Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
Sin separates you from God. Even small, deliberate sins erode your soul’s readiness for eternity.
Catholic Quote:
“If one were to consider how much Jesus has suffered, one would not commit the smallest sin.” – St. Faustina Kowalska
Visual Description:
See a mirror reflecting your soul—when you sin deliberately, cracks appear. But when you resist temptation, the glass shines clearer, reflecting the face of Christ.
What is mortal sin Catholic teaching
Rule 4: Make Reparation for Evil and Do Every Good
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40
You will be judged not only for what you did, but for what you failed to do.
Catholic Quote:
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing.” – St. Vincent de Paul
Visual Description:
Envision a balance scale in eternity. On one side: acts of mercy, prayers, sacrifices. On the other: sins and omissions. As you pray for sinners and feed the hungry, the scale tips toward heaven.
Catholic acts of reparation site:reddit.com
Rule 5: Obey God’s Will Immediately
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21
God speaks through conscience, Scripture, the Church, and circumstances. When you know His will, act—without delay.
Catholic Quote:
“The most beautiful act of faith is the one made in darkness, in sacrifice, and with extreme effort.” – St. Faustina Kowalska
Visual Description:
Imagine a soldier in spiritual armor, standing at a crossroads. One path is easy, lit by worldly lights. The other is narrow, dark, but marked with a small sign: God’s Will. The soldier kneels, then advances—sword in hand, heart on fire.
obedience to God's will Catholic
Rule 6: Focus on God’s Will in This Moment
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
God does not ask you to live tomorrow’s grace today. He gives you grace now.
Catholic Quote:
“The secret of everything is to let oneself be carried by God and so to carry Him to others.” – St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Visual Description:
Picture a monk writing in a journal by candlelight, completely absorbed. Outside, storms rage, people rush, phones buzz—but inside, peace reigns. He writes: “Now I do what God wants, here, this moment.”
Rule 7: Seek Peaceful Activity and Active Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” – John 14:27
True peace is not comfort—it is doing God’s will, even when it hurts.
Catholic Quote:
“Be cheerful. Jesus will take care of everything. Let us trust in Jesus and our heavenly Mother, and everything will work out well.” – St. Faustina Kowalska
Visual Description:
See a woman comforting a crying child in a war zone, her face calm despite the chaos. Bullets fly, but she sings a lullaby. Her heart whispers: Mary, I do this for you. This is active peace.
Catholic saints in suffering
Rule 8: Preserve Order and Mortify the Senses
“I discipline my body and keep it under control…” – 1 Corinthians 9:27
Time is sacred. Waste none. Deny small pleasures to gain eternal joy.
Catholic Quote:
“I can’t do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.” – St. Dominic Savio
Visual Description:
Imagine a well-ordered desk: rosary, Bible, schedule, crucifix. A clock ticks. A phone lies face-down. A young man prays before work, then begins—focused, calm, disciplined. Each minute is a pearl on a string leading to heaven.
Catholic daily planner
Rule 9: Invoke Mary Before, During, and After All Actions
“Do whatever he tells you.” – John 2:5 (Mary at Cana)
Mary is your spiritual mother. She leads you to Jesus in every moment.
Catholic Quote:
“Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.” – St. Louis de Montfort
Visual Description:
Picture a child running into a mother’s arms after every task—after studying, after work, after prayer. Each time, the mother smiles and whispers, “I’ll take it to Jesus.” That mother is Mary.
Rule 10: Belong Totally to Mary
“I am yours, O Lord, I am yours.” – Psalm 119:94 (adapted)
Consecration means surrender. You are hers—body, soul, prayers, sufferings, joys.
Catholic Quote:
“Once you belong to Mary, you belong to her always, in every circumstance.” – St. Louis de Montfort
Visual Description:
See a ring being placed on a finger, inscribed: Totus Tuus. The hand is small, the ring large—symbolizing how Mary enlarges your soul when you give it to her.
Total Consecration to Mary explained
Rule 11: Do All Things in Christ Through Mary
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
With Mary, nothing is impossible. Trust her intercession.
Catholic Quote:
“He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
Visual Description:
Imagine a tightrope walker over a canyon, holding a long pole with a statue of Mary at one end. The wind howls, but he walks steady—because he knows she holds him up.
St Alphonsus Liguori quotes
Rule 12: Master Yourself to Love Others
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mark 12:31
You cannot give what you do not have. Self-mastery frees you to serve.
Catholic Quote:
“We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.” – St. Vincent de Paul
Visual Description:
Picture a priest washing the feet of the poor, his face serene. He sees Christ in each person. His hands are strong, his heart humble—because he has died to self to rise in love.
Catholic foot washing ceremony
Final Encouragement:
“The Lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrise.” – St. David of Wales
No matter your past, today is the first day of your sainthood. Begin now.
With Mary. In Jesus. For eternity.
Rule 1: You Must Be a Saint
Rule 2: Seek the Greatest Possible Glory of God
Rule 3: Never Commit Mortal or Deliberate Venial Sin
Rule 4: Make Reparation for Evil and Do Every Good
Rule 5: Obey God’s Will Immediately
Rule 6: Focus on God’s Will in This Moment
Rule 7: Seek Peaceful Activity and Active Peace
Rule 8: Preserve Order and Mortify the Senses
Rule 9: Invoke Mary Before, During, and After All Actions
Rule 10: Belong Totally to Mary
Rule 11: Do All Things in Christ Through Mary
Rule 12: Master Yourself to Love Others
youtube.com/watch?v=5Fs_h10Xmvc