Page "Teachings of Opus Dei" Paragraph 27

Sanctification is a repayment of love for God's tender fatherly love and is the work of the Holy Spirit, Infinite Love, according to Catholic doctrine.

This person resides in a Christian who is willing to correspond, and thus the human spirit which was created to love, says Escrivá, is led along an " inclined plane ," which starts with the fervent repetition of short prayers and then " gives way to intimacy with God, looking at God without needing rest or feeling tired.

" And so, one of his favourite teachings is the biblical injunction that all should love God with their whole heart, soul, might, and mind.

This is a love which does not keep anything back, a kind of love which parents are supposed to transmit all day long to their children ( Deut 6: 4-9: Shema Yisrael ), and which Christ called the " greatest commandment " ( Mt 22: 37-40 ).

Escrivá also points to Jesus ' " new commandment " to love one another " as I have loved you " ( Jn 13: 34 ), " greater love " than which " no man has " for he " lays down his life for his friends " ( Jn 15: 13 ).

According to the Catechism, this " effective self-offering " is " our model of holiness " ( no.

459 ).

For Escrivá this is " the level of what can be demanded " of all Christians.