Let us keep before our minds that which makes up real holiness. Holiness
means getting above ourselves; it means perfect mastery of all our
passions. It means having real and continual contempt for ourselves and
for the things of the world to the point of preferring poverty rather
than wealth, humiliation rather than glory, suffering ...rather than
pleasure. Holiness means loving our neighbor as ourself for love of God. In this connection holiness means loving those who curse us, who hate and persecute us and even doing good to them. Holiness means living humbly, being disinterested, prudent, just, patient, kind, chaste, meek, diligent, carrying out one's duties for no other reason than that of pleasing God and receiving from Him alone the reward one deserves. St. Padre Pio