Is a soul who beholds God fully alive? Can you be fully alive apart from God? These are the types of questions ancient philosophers contemplated while seeking the true purpose of humanity. St. Irenaeus teaches that it is only in growing in virtue that a soul grows into the image and likeness of God. If God is love and the primary purpose of our life is to become one with God, how do we grow in love? St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us that love is willing the good of another. Therefore the ultimate virtue is love. All other virtues leads to willing the good of another. At Anima Christi we not only prioritize growing in virtue but living a life of grace. St. Paul explains to the Corinthians, “but what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others -- not I, but the grace of God which is with me.” (1 Cor 15:10) It is through grace, that we are full of life. We can not grow in virtue through our own merits but only through the grace of God. Because of this we turn to the sacraments, the channels of grace, to revive us. Enriched by the sacraments, sacred scripture, and the lives of the saints, our families will learn to cooperate with God’s grace to become fully alive, glorifying God in everything we do!