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Pope answers question to happiness
Where Can I Find Happiness?
“VATICAN CITY, MARCH 26, 2010
Benedict XVI is telling youth how to live a beautiful and joyful life, saying that even sacrifice is attractive if there is a reason for it.”
-(Zenit.org).
How often have we asked, “What can I do to be happy?” or “Is there a purpose to what I am doing right now, right here?” Benedict XVI answers these questions in his address to the youth on Thursday, March 26, at an event to mark the 25th World Youth Day.
Of course, we can’t experience eternal life here on earth, but we can get a glimpse of it by understanding its meaning and how it relates to our everyday life here on earth.
Eternal Value: A “bonus point” that helps us get to Heaven
Here are some tips that summarize what Pope Benedict said on finding happiness in life and seeking its eternal value:
1) Knowing Christ: "Only with the opening of the heart to him, only with knowledge of the whole of what he has said and done, with our love, with our going to him, can we little by little know him ever more and thus also have the experience of being loved," the Holy Father said.
Challenge: Spend 15 minutes in a Church talking to Christ and contemplating his love for you in your life (Hint: think about everything he has given you)
2) Love others: “To do good things, to be committed to one's neighbor." Following Christ’s commandment of love: “Love one another as I have loved you.” When we love others, we show God our love, because he also loves them
Challenge: Think of the most difficult person for you to get along with in your family or amongst your friends and do something for that person (Hint: What is their favorite thing to do?)
3) Sacrifice: becomes beautiful "if we have a reason and if this reason then justifies even the difficulty of the renunciation."
Challenge: The next time your family does an activity together, opt out to do what someone else wants to do opposed to doing what you prefer. If you do not do activities together as a family, then take the time to plan one. (Hint: start with a movie night or a Sunday picnic at a park)
These are just a few tips to start finding happiness in our lives. By doing things like knowing Christ, loving others, and sacrificing, we show God our love for him. In loving God, we find happiness in life, which has eternal value.
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