The Key Takeaways

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” – Colossians 2:9-10a

Moral Dimension – Integrity

The moral dimension arises from its seat -- the Conscience -- the inner sanctuary where truth and freedom meet. It responds to the felt-need for Truthfulness, to live in accord with what is good, just, and right. Moral growth unfolds as one’s capacity for ethical discernment deepens, moving from rule-following to principled conviction. Morally mature people adhere to ethical principles that cannot be corroded by temptations of any kind.

The crowning quality of the moral dimension is Integrity, the alignment between belief and behaviour, inner conviction and outward action. Integrity brings unity to life: one’s words, choices, and relationships cohere around truth. It is not perfection, but authenticity, the courage to stand in truth even when inconvenient. Through integrity, morality becomes an expression of wholeness rather than external obligation.

Priests and consecrated persons are called not merely to possess integrity, but to embody it as beacons and guiding lights who uphold integrity as a way of life. Admittedly, integrity is among the most demanding virtues to cultivate, yet it remains one of the most admirable and inspiring for others to emulate. When a person is recognized as someone of integrity, trust and respect naturally follow.

Spiritual Dimension – Surrender

The Soul, the seat and the deepest centre of the person, grounds the spiritual dimension. It is oriented toward the felt-need of Transcendence that is manifested in the longing to reach beyond self, to connect with the divine and the ultimate meaning of life. When spiritual growth matures, it turns into Surrender, the serene trust that allows the soul to rest in God’s wisdom and will. Surrender is the apex of the wholeness paradigm.

Surrender is not defeat but fulfilment. It is the paradoxical freedom found in letting go, where control gives way to communion, and striving yields to grace. In surrender, the soul aligns completely with its source, embodying the peace and purpose that crown the journey of human wholeness. Surrender predisposes a person to accept all of life’s happenings, knowing full well that there is a purpose in everything that happens to us.

Priests and consecrated persons discover their deepest joy when they learn to surrender completely to God’s action in their lives. Their vocation -- expressed through commitment, community living, and ministry -- offers countless opportunities to entrust themselves to God’s will. In this journey of surrender, they have the perfect model in Mary, whose words to the Angel Gabriel, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), remain the timeless template of faithful abandonment to God.

Conclusion: Symphony of six dimensions

Dear friends, I have picturised the wholeness paradigm in a circular form, rather than in a linear or hierarchical form, to affirm that all six dimensions need to be developed equally and simultaneously. These six dimensions are not separate paths but interwoven movements of one symphony, very much like the integrated unison of various musical notes. Each dimension supports and purifies the others: the physical sustains the emotional, the moral guides the intellectual, the spiritual gives depth to all. When these dimensions resonate in balance, the person experiences wholeness -- a harmony of body, mind, heart, and soul, lived in communion with others and open to the divine.

The basic premise on which this wholeness paradigm is founded is that, within all of us, there is this deep-felt need to arrive at that wholeness that God intends us to possess; “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mathew 5:43). Being perfect like the Heavenly Father is not possible, nevertheless, Jesus invites us to be on this journey of becoming whole. That’s because wholeness is not only a destination to arrive at but a process of continuous striving to be where God intends us to be. As I have mentioned elsewhere in this series, “Wholeness is being in unity and harmony within oneself, the world and God.” As a further help, I present here a short checklist that could help us to evaluate our place on this journey.

The Wholeness Paradigm Checklist

For each statement, take time to reflect honestly. You may rate yourself on a 5-point scale (1 = rarely true, 2 = occasionally, 3 = sometimes true, 4 = often true and 5 = very true), or meditate on the areas that invite growth.

Instructions for feedback: If you wish to understand your current standing in living the Wholeness Paradigm, you can do so in two ways:

1. To assess how you are doing in each dimension, total the marks for that specific dimension.
2. To understand your overall level of wholeness, total the marks across all six dimensions to obtain a global picture.

After completing the checklist, take a moment, firstly, to identify which dimension feels most alive in you at this time and which one calls for deeper attention or renewal. Secondly, ask yourself: How is God inviting me toward greater wholeness today?

At the conclusion of this series, “In Search of Wholeness in Priestly and Religious Life,” we may each ask: What are my key takeaways? In what ways will this reflection influence my personal, communal, ministerial, and spiritual life?

My answer would be: A meaningful and enthusiastic living of the six dimensions, as described throughout this series. Come, let us continue this shared journey to wholeness!

Blurbs

Priests and consecrated persons are called not merely to possess integrity, but to embody it as beacons and guiding lights who uphold integrity as a way of life.