Ralph Martin recently gave the commencement address at Brookewood School in Kensington, Maryland. A condensed version of his message is shared below.

It’s easy to look to a future event like college, marriage, entering religious life, or starting a career, and think, “That’s when my life will start!” However, we have been living life since conception. Life is now. What are the secrets to living a meaningful life filled with purpose—and not just seeing those things as only attainable in the future?

Our Catholic faith holds many of these secrets. It’s important to open our hearts and minds to the keys to happiness that our Catholic faith contains.

What are these keys? First, only one thing really matters: “What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk 8:36). Life is short, and we must live in a way that’s pleasing to God so that we can end our lives in his friendship and thereby enter eternal life. We must be in the world but not of it!

The alternative—never reaching the fulfillment of our life’s purpose and never entering eternal life—is horrific.

Second, the angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid” (Lk 1:30). This is important! And it is only possible through having faith in Christ—who defeated death—and the love of God poured into our hearts.

There is so much to possibly fear in life: death; illness; failing; rejection; humiliation; being too short, tall, fat, thin, non-athletic, or not being beautiful or handsome enough; not having enough; not being loved; failing; etc. First John 4:17-19 tells us,

In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

Growing in faith and love is a lifelong journey. May we find peace in the angel’s exhortation to Mary to not be afraid. May we welcome God’s touch, his call, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. He only takes from us those things that block the happiness we were created for, and in return, He gives us eternal life and love.

When Peter asked to walk on water, Jesus said, “Come” (Mt 14:29). When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water; when he looked fearfully at the strong wind, he began to sink. Peter cried out, and Jesus immediately saved him. He asked Peter, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:31).

That brings us to the third point, which Teresa of Avila used to sum up all her writings: “I am asking only one thing of you, keep your eyes on Jesus. He is both the Way and the Destination.”

The two most important decisions in my life were to give the Lord unconditional surrender and to pray and reflect on his Word daily. These decisions helped me keep my eyes on the Lord. Those two simple decisions can help each of us to live out the fulfillment of our life’s purpose now. Let’s help each other make it, not just to our five-year reunion, but to that eternal, heavenly reunion, where we may hear: “Well done good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your master!” (Mt 25:25).

This article originally appeared in Renewal Ministries’ August 2025 newsletter.