The first day of Latin class in seminary we translated a few simple sentences from the great Roman philosopher and politician Cicero, among them the opening line of a letter to his wife: \u201cSi vales valeo\u201d which means \u201cif you are well, I am well.\u201d\u00a0 Not only does this example show the brevity of the Latin language to express ideas that require many words in modern languages, but it also portrays an aspect of a sentiment which I oftentimes encounter today expressed with the phrase, \u201cif you are happy, I am happy,\u201d or perhaps the more direct statement: \u201cdo whatever makes you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I find this common way of thinking quite dangerous, because ultimately it is bad advice.\u00a0 On the surface, it appears tolerant and harmless, but it does not take into account the moral value of the actions undertaken.\u00a0 Objectively speaking, there are things that may appear to bring happiness but they do not due to their negative consequences or because they are against the law.\u00a0 Suppose Bob uses recreational drugs and it makes him happy, even if temporarily, and his mother\u2019s response to him is, \u201cmy son, do whatever makes you happy.\u201d\u00a0 Or imagine Sue who runs a human trafficking network and is able to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, funding a luxurious lifestyle which she greatly enjoys, and her father\u2019s response to this horrendous situation is, \u201cif you are happy my daughter, I am happy.\u201d\u00a0 These are extreme examples to make a simple point: I cannot be happy just because you are happy \u2013 not all choices are of equal moral value.<\/p>\n
In his book The Confessions<\/em>, Saint Augustine wrote centuries ago, \u201cwe all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated.\u00a0 How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord?\u201d\u00a0 The Church proposes that every human person is created seeking true, lasting happiness, and this is only found in the measure that one encounters God.\u00a0 True lasting happiness, or beatitude, is found in heaven when an individual beholds God face to face.\u00a0 Only then, every single human desire is satisfied.\u00a0 Jesus proposes in the Gospel the Beatitudes, a path to happiness that appears to disregard the wisdom of the world \u2013 how can the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, peacemakers and the persecuted be happy?<\/p>\n The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement.\u00a0 The happiness we are promised however, invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else (CCC 1723). \u00a0Jesus preached, \u201cdo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.\u00a0 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.\u00a0 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be (Matthew 6: 19-21).\u201d\u00a0 In the beatitudes Jesus invites us to seek lasting happiness in what is eternal, rather than on things that are passing away which always leave us wanting.\u00a0 Even when facing challenges, if a heart retains a firm foundation in God, true happiness is always within reach.<\/p>\n