--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Holiness consists in doing God’s will…" description: "\"Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully. Faithfulness makes saints. The spiritual life is a union with Jesus: the divine and the human giving th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/mother-teresa-196_asks_holiness-consists-in-doing-god-s-will-jo_2813864.jpg" --- # Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully… ![“Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully. Faithfulness makes saints. The spiritual life is a union with Jesus: the divine and the human giving themselves to each other. The only thing Jesus asks of us is to give ourselves to him, in total poverty and total self-forgetfulness.” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/mother-teresa-196_asks_holiness-consists-in-doing-god-s-will-jo_2813864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/mother-teresa-196_asks_holiness-consists-in-doing-god-s-will-jo_2813864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/mother-teresa-196_asks_holiness-consists-in-doing-god-s-will-jo_2813864.jpg) > “Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully. Faithfulness makes saints. The spiritual life is a union with Jesus: the divine and the human giving themselves to each other. The only thing Jesus asks of us is to give ourselves to him, in total poverty and total self-forgetfulness.” [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living joyfully in God's will and self‑sacrifice creates true holiness and faithfulness. **In simple terms:** Joyful obedience brings holiness. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑less service. Themes faith holiness service humility Mood devotional reflective Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - personal devotion - community service - prayer - charitable work Key Concepts spiritual union self‑sacrifice joyful obedience Questions to Reflect On - How can you serve joyfully without neglecting self‑care? - What does total poverty mean to you? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Faithfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithfulness/) [Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetfulness/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [God 's will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-will/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holiness Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-consists-621376/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Saints Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints-spiritual-3539517/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-forgetfulness/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/holiness-consists-simply-in-doing-god-s-will-and-being-just-what-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Holiness consists of doing the will of God with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holiness-consists-of-doing-the-will-of-god-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [He who esteems the Virginia reel A bait to draw saints from their spiritual weal, And regards the quadrille as a far greater knavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-who-esteems-the-virginia-reel-a-bait-to-draw-saints-from-their/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Make sure that you let God's grace work in your souls by accepting whatever He gives you, and giving Him whatever He takes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/make-sure-that-you-let-god-s-grace-work-in-your-souls-by-accepting/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [But what after all, behind appearances, is this seeming mystery? We can see that it is the Consciousness which had lost itself returning again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/but-what-after-all-behind-appearances-is-this-seeming-mystery-we-can/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [the self expands through acts of self forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-self-expands-through-acts-of-self-forgetfulness/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Humility is not an exaggeratedly low opinion of yourself. Humility is self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/humility-is-not-an-exaggeratedly-low-opinion-of-yourself-humility-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [But what after all, behind appearance, is the seeming mystery? We can see that it is the Consciousness which had lost itself, returning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/but-what-after-all-behind-appearance-is-the-seeming-mystery-we-can/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Happiness lies in a large measure of self-forgetfulness, either in work . . . or in the love of others. ♥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-ruess/happiness-lies-in-a-large-measure-of-self-forgetfulness-either-in/) [Everett Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-ruess/) > [For with eyes made clear by many tears, and a heart softened by the tenderest sorrow, she recognized the beauty of her sister's life—uneventful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/for-with-eyes-made-clear-by-many-tears-and-a-heart-softened-by-the/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Humility is self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/humility-is-self-forgetfulness/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [By means of Invocation, the being awakens, and awakening becomes fullness. By means of balancing, fullness becomes internal wholeness. By virtue of exteriorized attention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-truman/by-means-of-invocation-the-being-awakens-and-awakening-becomes/) [David Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-truman/) > [“Ignorance might be bliss. But self-forgetfulness is pure ecstasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/ignorance-might-be-bliss-but-self-forgetfulness-is-pure-ecstasy/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-really-wonderful-moments-of-joy-in-this-world-are-not-the-moments/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) ## More by Mother Teresa > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [All works of love are works of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/all-works-of-love-are-works-of-peace/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We may not be able to give much but we can always give the joy that springs in a heart that is in LOVE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-may-not-be-able-to-give-much-but-we-can-always-give-the-joy-that/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/maybe-if-i-didn-t-pick-up-that-one-person-i-wouldn-t-have-picked-up/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-too-are-called-to-withdraw-at-certain-intervals-into-deeper/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Recovering in a Calcutta, India hospital. I think I'm more difficult than critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/recovering-in-a-calcutta-india-hospital-i-think-i-m-more-difficult/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The more we empty ourselves, the more room we give God to fill us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-more-we-empty-ourselves-the-more-room-we-give-god-to-fill-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-prayer-joy-is-strength-joy-is-love-joy-is-a-net-of-love-by/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully. Faithfulness makes saints. The spiritual life is a union with Jesus: the divine and the human giving themselves to each other. 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