“The slightest cooperation with God’s grace can provoke a massive spiritual change.”
~ Bishop Robert Barron
We are greatly limiting our potential if we believe we can lead our happiest, most joyful lives without the benefit of God. If we want to be our best selves, we need to become the people God created us to be.
Christian joy is a deep, abiding state of the soul that comes from living in communion with God. It provides the serene and steadfast assurance that every instance is a celebration of the beauty of life and the unfailing love of the Lord. Joy lifts the veil of circumstance to reveal the eternal and unchanging promise of God’s presence, illuminating the sacred influence in our daily lives. It comforts us along our darkest paths and turns our challenges into blessed journeys.
Saint Augustine poses the question: “Is not the happy life the thing that all desire, and is there anyone who does not desire it at all?” We are all created with a universal longing for happiness. But what exactly does it mean to be happy?
Our Christian teaching supplements the four cardinal virtues with the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity (or love). These theological virtues elevate and perfect our habits, thus directing us toward the supernatural happiness that can only be achieved by our union with God. Theological virtues are infused in our souls through God’s gift of sanctifying grace.
The cardinal virtues are the four moral virtues thought by ancient philosophers to form all other virtues acquired by human effort and repetition. The concept of these virtues–consisting of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance–traces back to Plato. Saint Ambrose later assigned the designation “cardinal,” stemming from the Latin root “cardo” or hinge, to emphasize that on these qualities hinge the moral life.
Gratitude is our way to demonstrate thankful appreciation for everything in our lives. Adopting an attitude of gratitude promotes happiness and wellbeing. Simply put, we cannot be hateful if we are grateful.