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directly and indirectly, emphasising the true meaning of the Council, which is the bringing alive in every dimension of human experience of the living presence of Jesus Christ for the world. This connects powerfully with the other central truth that complements it, in personal terms, for every member of the Church, namely the universal call to holiness, which appears later in the same document: Therefore all in the Church, whether they belong to the hierarchy or are cared for by it, are called to holiness according to the apostle’s saying: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification. ” (1 Th 4:3 cf. Ep 1:4)4 And further on in the same document this second truth is repeated: It is therefore quite clear that all Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of love, and by this holiness a more human manner of life is fostered also in earthly society.5 These two central themes are of particular significance as we continue to reflect on the importance of Humanae Vitae. The perfection of love, which is the essence of holiness, can only come alive once Jesus Christ has been able to establish the gift of his presence deep within a person. When this takes place a light then shines out into the world, a truth that echoes the words of Jesus to his disciples in St Matthew’s Gospel, “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men that they
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