[…] Read the source & comments: https://catholicgentleman.com/2016/02/six-ways-to-live-a-joyful-life-from-st-john-bosco/ […]
A blog for Catholic men that seeks to encourage virtue, the pursuit of holiness and the art of true masculinity.
If there’s one undeniable fact about human nature, it’s that we all want to be happy. We crave joy—infinite, endless joy.
The problem is, we often look for happiness in all the wrong places, leaving ourselves frustrated and miserable. The plethora of wildly popular self-help books shows that we are hungry for guidance on how to live well.
One man found the secret of true happiness. His name was St. John Bosco. He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.”
So how did St. John Bosco find real happiness? Here’s his six recommendations for living a joyful life:
Finding real happiness isn’t complicated. Anyone, even a child, could live by these simple rules.
Yet, these prescriptions are pretty counter-cultural aren’t they? They are the exact opposite of what society tells us will make us happy. You certainly won’t find them shared in a New York Times best-seller.
But the truth is, it doesn’t matter what society says. The most joyful of all people are the saints—men and women like St. John Bosco. They were truly and lastingly happy because they had discovered the secret that holiness is real happiness. And they want you to discover it too.
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Source for St. John Bosco’s recommendations: American Needs Fatima.
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[…] Read the source & comments: https://catholicgentleman.com/2016/02/six-ways-to-live-a-joyful-life-from-st-john-bosco/ […]
[…] One man found the secret of true happiness. His name was St. John Bosco. He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.” Read more here at The Catholic Gentleman. […]
[…] on today's Restoration Reader, Sam Guzman publishes on Those Catholic Men, Six Ways to Live a Joyful Life From St. John Bosco. What society says will make us happy is quite different to the recommendations of a […]
[…] note: This article originally appeared on the Catholic Gentleman and is reprinted here with kind […]
[…] Diterjemahkan secara bebas dari: The Catholic Gentlemen. Six Ways to Live a Joyful Life from St. John Bosco. […]
[…] Six Ways to Live a Joyful Life from St. John Bosco […]
[…] One man found the secret of true happiness. His name was St. John Bosco. He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.” Read more here at The Catholic Gentleman. […]
[…] One man found the secret of true happiness. His name was St. John Bosco. He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.” Read more here at The Catholic Gentleman. […]
Carlos C. says
Number three seems problematic. I feel its addressing the company you keep defines who you are. I get that, but what if the company I keep is of good moral character and judgment,yet are not Catholic. Betrayal, Catholics can also betray. I don’t know,number three is problematic.
Greg Broussard says
I find number three to be very concise AND very true.
Steve Sanborn says
Carlos…..#3 doesn’t mention ‘Catholic’. All 6 are problematic from time to time with all of us. That’s the challenge.
Ambrose says
Notice that he says “…and do not obey His precepts.” Those who are “of good moral character and judgment,” as you say, are obeying Gods precepts, even if they don’t realize it (Though we should still encourage them to join the Church). So the person who has no faith and does not obey God’s precepts is the type of person who has no scruples. This is the type of person that St. John Bosco warns us about.
Debra Stone says
“Carry your cross on your back and take is as it comes, small or large, whethgnedly accepts the one God sends him.” This one for me is the hardest. We each feel we have a cross to carry, but we feel that we should not have to, some kind of punishment. Carrying the cross is the greatest gift of all.
Jayr Alencar says
Carlos, I´m from Brazil, and I work in an organization where most people are not catholic. Many do not believe in God.
I think like you, it´s problematic, but not impossible.
Pax et bonum
Gary says
One of the best items I’ve read here in a while. Than you very much!
Andrew Markich says
This is a great post. So simple but true. A great Saint to teach us how to live. A sure way to obtain happiness if people really think and consider and use their intellect and will.Thanks.
Andrew Markich says
Number three is not really problematic.This Saint is talking about those that do not believe in God will lead us astray and possibly onto the road to perdition. The closer one gets to God the happier one becomes. We need to live this life in preparation for the next where we will be eternally happy with Him if we follow His commandments.
Rose says
Be the example. Love one another
james says
They are all lovely sayings but are any authenticated? I suspect he never said several of them including #4.
It would be nice if authors who posted such things provided some sort of citation. This same list is posted on many other sites yet so far I have not been able to find any citation.
Steve Tyson says
Agree…wonderful quotes, but as is the trend recently there are seldom citations for those that would like to see the original text(s)