Christians can never be sad

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I was reading something by Pope Francis that said that Christians can never be sad, and that a Christian is sad when he is distant from Jesus. I know that the Pope has a tendency to say things that can be taken out of context and easily misunderstood, but this was something that is really getting to me.

If he’s saying that when a Christian is sad it’s because he wants the world and Christ, and as someone who struggles with this all the time, I can understand what he’s saying.

Has there ever been an interview where the Pope explains his approach to communicating? It is very hard to not resent the lack of clarity but it would be easier if I knew his reason for approaching things this way.
 
I have not read what the statement of Pope Francis to which you refer, but it seems rather off to me also. Didn’t Jesus get sad when Lazarus died? On its surface, it also seems like a rather statements which is lacking in pastoral consideration. People get sad, often for very serious and legitimate reasons, telling them their emotion is not Christian does not seem like a good idea. But I would really have to read the Holy Father’s comment in its context. Sometimes what he says is not as unclear as people say, they just need to look at the statement in context and adjust their normal thought process a little. Then one can find quite a bit of value.
 
Sad seems wrong. Jesus wept over Lazarus, over Jerusalem, and was anxious about what was to come. We lose loved ones from this life, we suffer, others suffer… Sadness is perfectly appropriate.

I would hazard a guess that the pope was meaning despair, of giving up on hope, of not just being sad but turning your entire world view into a depression.
 
Bdonoho said:
I was reading something by Pope Francis that said that Christians can never be sad, and that a Christian is sad when he is distant from Jesus. I know that the Pope has a tendency to say things that can be taken out of context and easily misunderstood, but this was something that is really getting to me.

If he’s saying that when a Christian is sad it’s because he wants the world and Christ, and as someone who struggles with this all the time, I can understand what he’s saying.

Has there ever been an interview where the Pope explains his approach to communicating? It is very hard to not resent the lack of clarity but it would be easier if I knew his reason for approaching things this way.
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  1. we have to remember that Pope Francis didn’t say “sad” he said something in Italian or Spanish. Translations of Pope Francis into English are often terrible.
  2. instead of “sad” the correct word in English most likely is something like distraught, despair, depressed, etc
  3. Finally, in order to make heads or tails out of Pope Francis, it’s important to look at the entire transcript. The media likes to take one line and totally take it out of context.
God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
  1. we have to remember that Pope Francis didn’t say “sad” he said something in Italian or Spanish. Translations of Pope Francis into English are often terrible.
  2. instead of “sad” the correct word in English most likely is something like distraught, despair, depressed, etc
  3. Finally, in order to make heads or tails out of Pope Francis, it’s important to look at the entire transcript. The media likes to take one line and totally take it out of context.
God Bless
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Right. I didn’t even see it and I can gather what he meant.
I wish people would stop picking apart what he says and just try to glean the MESSAGE instead of looking for errors.
 
pianistclare said:
Right. I didn’t even see it and I can gather what he meant.
I wish people would stop picking apart what he says and just try to glean the MESSAGE instead of looking for errors.
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I don’t think people are doing that, certainly not the OP, he seemed to not be picking apart anything, but his post seemed to be an effort to do exactly what you suggest.
 
tafan said:
I don’t think people are doing that, certainly not the OP, he seemed to not be picking apart anything, but his post seemed to be an effort to do exactly what you suggest.
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Wasn’t talking about him.
Talking about journalists, :rolleyes:
 
phil19034 said:
  1. we have to remember that Pope Francis didn’t say “sad” he said something in Italian or Spanish. Translations of Pope Francis into English are often terrible.
  2. instead of “sad” the correct word in English most likely is something like distraught, despair, depressed, etc
  3. Finally, in order to make heads or tails out of Pope Francis, it’s important to look at the entire transcript. The media likes to take one line and totally take it out of context.
God Bless
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No need for guess work. Here is the homily in question:

w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130324_palme.html

Here is the Spanish version:

w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/es/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130324_palme.html

He certainly used the Spanish word “tristes”, which would be “sad”.

However, if you read the whole portion:
And here the first word that I wish to say to you: joy! Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy born of having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, in our midst; it is born from knowing that with him we are never alone, even at difficult moments, even when our life’s journey comes up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are so many of them!
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I think the bold part is more important, he is saying that we cannot be a person of sadness, the phrase in question is seemingly thrown in to stress the importance (ie take it to the extreme to wake someone up). And he is completely right about that. I have lost a spouse, I know what its like to be sad, but I fought hard to NOT be a person of sadness, to not let the sadness ever dominate my life in anyway.

Its a beautiful homily. Read it all, and you will appreciated it.
 
Archbishop Fulton Sheen once made a very wise observation. He said “you cannot be grateful and unhappy at the same time.” Thinking about that, I realized that you can be sad and grateful at the same time. My mother passed away recently. I loved her very much and I firmly believe she is home with Our Lord, my dad, and a host of others. I’m sad she is not here anymore, but I am grateful for her presence in my life. And I feel no grief in her passing.
Sad is an emotion, unhappiness is a choice. What I think the Pope is saying is that Christians cannot be sad as a constant idea because the final reward of faithfulness is union with our Lord in an existence of pure love and peace. Being constantly unhappy or even sad is to fail to recognize what is in store for those who are faithful and live life gratefully.

My :twocents:
 
NUTS TO THAT

Anybody who hasn’t wept in near despair or at least felt like it, doesn’t understand life, IMINWHO.

Even our LORD wept.

ICXC NIKA
 
I think even based on this I’ve concluded that even though I just went to confession last weekend I still am not a Christian in the way Francis describes (scrupulosity doesn’t help but it’s primarily the worldliness). It is driving me crazy because I don’t know how to consistently live like that. I’m not even rich but I still feel like all the time I love the world more than God and it’s the most frustrating thing in the world. So yes, I’m a person of sadness and I pray for the grace to not be that way anymore.
 
“[22] Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel. [23] The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life. [24] Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee. [25] For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it. [26] Envy and anger shorten a man’s days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time. [27] A Cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.”

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 30:22-27

And again:

“[16] My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial. [17] And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a, day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness. [18] And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or two, for fear of detraction. [19] For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck. [20] In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart. [21] Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end. [22] Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself. [23] Remember my judgment: for also shall be so: yesterday for me, and today for thee. [24] When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.”

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 38:16-24
 
GEddie said:
NUTS TO THAT

Anybody who hasn’t wept in near despair or at least felt like it, doesn’t understand life, IMINWHO.

Even our LORD wept.

ICXC NIKA
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I have been really sad in my life, I don’t know when I was near despair. I am not even for sure despair is an emotion. It seems more to me like an choice (barring mental illness).

CCC 2091
By despair, man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God’s goodness, to his justice - for the Lord is faithful to his promises - and to his mercy.
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We are a Resurrection People. As Christians we live in the light of the Resurrection.
The pope never said not to mourn. In talking against the evil of abortion, he relates the story of a woman who lost one of her triplets at birth. She still has her two other children, yet is distraught over the loss of the child who did not survive.

What Pope Francis has spoken about several times are gloomy Christians. Who would want to join an organization where people walk around with heads downcast, and shoulders drooping all the time? We are not dead. Jesus said, “I came that they might have Life, life to the fully.” Pope Francis is reminding us to live joyfully, to let the light of Christ’s love shine through us. Be radiant, and not Sad Sacks hiding in dark corners only looking at the dark side of life.
I think it was Pope John Paul II who reminded us to be awed by life. Pope Francis is simply following what others have already said. We have an amazing God. That is the God we as Christians need to show the world. How can they see that if we are always gloomy?
 
I feel joyful and optimistic at the prospect of Heaven, but I admit that I’m a bit gloomy living in a world with so much sin, pain and suffering, and poverty.
 
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