I mean, really, what is it? There are a couple of perceptions of holiness, one is correct. There is a perception of holiness that if you go by all the virtues you'll be fine and go to heaven. Just say the rosary one million times and you'll make it even if you don't mean it, same with the "sinner's prayer". That perception is really self-righteousness. There is a family at our church who we always saw as a good Catholic family. They went to mass dressed nicely, and so on. They seemed to do everything right.
My older sister soon befriended one of the daughters of the family, and they got along well. Later on, as the girl moved into a local college, she got a "boyfriend". Turns out he's an agnostic, and the girl didn't care about that because they "liked each other". She was also caught up in the "missionary dating" concept. My sister told her that even though she wasn't doing anything wrong with him, it won't work out. The girl didn't understand, because she didn't have a real close relationship with Jesus Christ. And since he's agnostic, he will draw her away from Christ, while a good friend should lift you up.
My sister did in fact talk with her about a relationship with Christ, but she mostly ignored. Because she thought that she was being "virtuous". However, the truth is, without a relationship with Him, virtue is meaningless. These people are also usually rather depressing. Most of the children of these families will leave the faith because they think it's boring and empty.
Now of course, the other is a relationship with Jesus Christ, and in that you have real virtue, real devotion to Our Lady, and real Catholicism. This is a beautiful thing, and gives you joy that nothing in this world could ever give. I'd also want to address something similar. That would be heaven. Far too many people think that it'll be a place of rest and um, sitting on a beach drinking some drink you drink on some island, probably while Jimmy Buffet is singing margaritaville. Truth is, if we don't get tired, don't get hungry, and don't even get thirsty, that would only mean one thing. God is gonna make us work! We will be praying up there!
One last thing to say, keep in mind why you want to go to heaven. Do you to go so you don't go to hell? Or so you are just in heaven, and you just want people to call you a saint because you are the greatest, which in truth means you are so arrogant you goin' to hell bro!?! Ok, that was a little bit of a joker there, you know what I mean....you do, right??? You should want go so you can be with your creator, adore Him, glorify Him, and pray for the stupid people down on earth. This closely coincides with why you want to go to Church.
Just some food for thought. Just don't choke on it!
