our universal call
"All the faithful of Christ are invited to strive for the holiness and perfection of their own proper state. Indeed they have an obligation to so strive."
-Lumen Gentium §42
"Holiness is not the luxury of the few; it is a simple duty for you and for me."
-Saint Theresa of Calcutta, Words to Love By
"Do not be afraid to be holy! Have the courage and humility to subject yourselves to the holy ambition of reaching the heights of holiness."
-Pope Saint John Paul II, World Youth Day 2000
"The person who is growing in holiness cannot remain silent about God's works, but manifests them in continuous holy action."
-Saint Anthony of Padua, Sermon for Pentecost Sunday
who we are
A Think Tank and Apostolate for Holiness
The Institute for a Holy Life is dedicated to helping ordinary Catholics answer the Universal Call to Holiness. We operate as both a think tank and an apostolate, bridging the gap between deep theological truths and the practical realities of modern life.
Our Research | The Think Tank
Before we develop inititiatives, we study the questions. The Institute is committed to systematically understanding the spiritual needs of today’s laity. By performing ongoing research into the experiences, obstacles, and faith levels of modern Catholics, we identify the specific catechetical gaps that lead to erosion of belief ... and of joy.
Our Initiatives | The Apostolate
We transform our research into practical tools. We help ordinary Catholics of the 21st Century apply the truths of the Faith in their daily lives in ways that are accessible, manageable, and life-changing.
Executive Director | Deacon Simons
Deacon Patrick Simons is the Executive Director of The Institute for a Holy Life. He is an Ordained Deacon with the Ordinariate who is currently assigned to a parish of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.
Prior to his secular career, Deacon Simons earned an bachelors degree in aerospace engineering. His focus in graduate school was market research and real estate economics. Eventually, he founded and managed an internationally respected real estate economic advisory firm. Upon ordination as a Catholic Deacon, he left his secular career to serve the Church. Deacon Simons now combines his market research and analytical expertise with his zeal for souls to direct the research and initiatives of The Institute for a Holy Life.
Deacon Simons is also available to speak on the topic of holiness, and is known to have a unique ability to make complex and theologically deep subjects easy to understand and use in ordinary daily life.
We are happy to discuss any ideas you have. Contact us.
the catholic happiness initiative
what
Our first project, The Catholic Happiness Initiative, has been launched to invite all persons to grow in happiness by growing in holiness.
The search for happiness in our culture is failing because it lacks a source. The Institute for a Holy Life provides the antidote to modern despair by leading souls back to the "Medicine of Immortality" and the "Religion of Joy."*
*John 15:11, 1 Peter 1:8, Gaudium et Spes §45, Catechism of the Catholic Church §301
As Catholicism is the Religion of Joy, The Institute for a Holy Life sees a massive opportunity to re-evangelizing Catholics with the promise of greater happiness through participation in the Sacraments, engagement with their parish and Diocese, and growth in holiness.
A Holy Life is a Happy Life.
why
We are living through a documented happiness crisis. Secular trends over the recent five decades indicate a staggering decline in national well-being, with those identifying as “very happy” declining by one third from 30% to a mere 20% of the general population, while those identifying as “not too happy” have increased by more than 40% from 16% to 23%.*
*General Social Survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center, affiliated with the University of Chicago, 1972 and 2024
While the multi-million dollar "self-help" industry offers endless "Happiness Projects" and "Happiness Hacks" to manufacture contentment through biological or psychological shifts, the human soul remains restless.
Sadly, we see this in our parishes as national weekly Mass attendance has dropped from nearly 75% in 1960 to roughly 17% today.* We are searching for a "hack" when what we truly need is holiness - a profound encounter, a relationship with the Living God.
*CARA Catholic Poll conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, affiliated with Georgetown University
join us today!
How You Can Help:
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Spread the Word: Help us invite everyone to find the only true happiness - the joy of holiness - by sharing our resources with your parish.
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Donate Financially: To ensure that cost is never a barrier to even one soul's opportunity to grow in holiness, we provide our materials free of charge to parishes. We rely entirely on private donations and grants to fund our research and defray the costs of printing and distribution.
Join us in our mission to help everyone answer the Universal Call to Holiness and rediscover the only happiness that lasts: Contact us today!
How
Our first practical resource in this initiative goes to the "Source and Summit" of our faith: the Eucharist. Our first booklet in the series is 1 Week to Happiness Through the Eucharist and Mass. Its life-changing message will motivate the reader to experience the Mass as Eucharistic Delight and enhancing Relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ.
Based on our research, the booklet has been carefully designed to provide a substantial and compelling amount of Scriptural and doctrinal information in a very accessible presentation:
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Friendly “1 Week” Format: As the booklet is organized into seven chapters (plus one “bonus”), it is a manageable undertaking that most readers will be enticed to finish.
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Daily, “bite-sized” Portions: As the chapters average about seven pages (between 500 and 900 words per day), each chapter is easily read in one sitting.
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Persuasive Pedagogy: Each daily topic is presented with both energy and substance that speaks to the hearts and minds of contemporary Catholics.
But, the Eucharist is only the beginning! The Institute is actively developing The Catholic Happiness Initiative to include a wide array of other Catholic topics.