Happiness in This Life
A Passionate Meditation on Material Existence and the Meaning of Life
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Pope Francis explores the idea of happiness and shows how we can bring more meaning and purpose to our lives.
For Pope Francis, the appreciation of our everyday lives is a spiritual undertaking. Joy is a divine attribute and creating joy around us an essential part of faith. Happiness in This Life delivers, in warm, engaging language accessible to believers and nonbelievers alike, key lessons instructing readers on how to find love and happiness in a chaotic world.
Along the way, Pope Francis discusses the sanctity of women’s rights, the challenges that face today's young people, and why fighting discrimination is the essence of loving thy neighbour. He shares personal stories and anecdotes from his life and provides comforting messages of hope. The core ideas of his Holiness’ papacy – mercy, support for marginalized people, and diplomacy – shine through.
Full of inspiration and guidance for personal growth, this life-affirming book will help readers find the path towards spiritual well-being and living a happy life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With this wide-ranging collection of writings, homilies, and addresses, the current pontiff dispels any notion that religious practice is dour and antiquated. True to his origins as a Jesuit priest, Pope Francis places the laity above all else and urges Catholics, especially young adults, to use their grace to help the less fortunate: "This is the prayer that a young person should make: Lord, what do you want from me?' " Francis endorses reading the Beatitudes in order to find true inner happiness and exhorts readers to memorize them in the same way they would memorize the Ten Commandments. Francis rails against consumerism, arguing that the desire to continually acquire material goods only leads to spiritual emptiness: "Let us distance ourselves from the longing to possess things, from the idolatry of money, and from wastefulness." This hodgepodge of quotes grouped loosely together is nonetheless inspiring. It brings together the pope's most affecting passages to inspire Catholics (and those of other faiths) to lift up those around them who suffer.
