In latest interview, Pope Francis reveals top 10 secrets to happiness

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I think what’s important to remember is that each Pope approaches the truths of the Catholic Church with their own style which includes, among other things, context and style.
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Which is always good as long as a pope does not stray into heresy for example saying that the jews covenant with God is still valid which would certainly cross the line from a different style to a heretic. I think pope horanus strayed into heresy. As far as i remember he was excomunicated after death by the church.
 
I think what’s important to remember is that each Pope approaches the truths of the Catholic Church with their own style which includes, among other things, context and style. JP and Benedict XVI (my favorite) both lived in the context of Europeans who had lived through WW II and the rise of Communism, and both were diocesan priests. Additionally, and perhaps most significantly, both are pre-Vatican II ordinands. Pope Francis is from Argentina which is a very different context than Europe from 1970-2013, he’s a Jesuit, and was ordained post Vatican II.

Personally, I like Benedict XVI’s style which is not only direct but intectually challenging and still available to us through his writings. But I also appreciate Pope Francis’ style which is very much in the vein of Matthew 10:16 (“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.") He knows that sometimes you hit issues head on, sometimes you hit issues on an angle, and sometimes you don’t hit the issue as presented at all because it’s not the real issue but a diversion.
What an excellent post.
👍👍:bowdown:
 
So you want him to keep preaching to the choir. Here I thought you guys keep whining about how Oprah and the New Agers keep stealing congregations away.

No when Pope Francis is turning himself to the Catholic version of it, y’all suddenly whining about that?

Is there anything that will satisfy?
YES. I second that!
👍
 
Isn’t it a warning sign to you that Jesus told his follows that the world will hate them, yet Pope Francis is the secular world’s darling?
No, it is not a warning to me that he might have found a way to soften people up.
I think you misunderstood…Jesus didn’t say “get out there and get people to hate you”.
He wanted us to be fishers of men. The Pope believes the way to do that is to meet them where they are and ti live as an example…not get up in their face and berate them while waving your bible. Leave that to the sects who think it’s a good idea.
 
I really like Pope Francis and agree with just about everything he has said.

The key point from the interview is that the pope said “The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing.” I totally agree with this.

Also, I would need to see the exact translation, but in the article it states that these are the popes tips for bringing greater joy to one’s life.

That is very different to being the key to happiness, which is only the headline to the article.

The great thing about this pope is that he shakes up so many catholics and speaks to them about what they are doing wrong.
 
I think the important thing to remember is that Catholicism, especially to those who have never heard it before or are living contrary to its teachings, is rather offensive. It’s a bottle that comes with a lot of hard pills to swallow. But this doesn’t mean we should be off-putting, and it surely doesn’t mean we should take the amount of hate we get as positive encouragement.

If “amount of hate” was directly correlated to the amount of Truth in a religion, then Westboro would be the place to be. (They are a great example of reveling in the “The world hates us so we must be doing something right” philosophy.)

And yes, Pope Francis may be the “Darling” of the world, but that’s because of Articles such as Rolling Stone’s and other twisted sources from “Catholics” and “Reliable News”. If people are paying attention, they will realize that Pope Francis is very much in line with his predecessors and all of Church teaching. My complaint is when other “Secular Friendly” quotes from him come up (like this very “Buzzfeed” style approach of a list of 10 things), they don’t seem to hit the deeper chord that will incite any change or challenge non-Catholics. And as stated, this may be a cultural difference, but the problem I’m seeing is not only that people are not feeling any call to conversion, but rather an affirmation of not converting.
 
So you want him to keep preaching to the choir. Here I thought you guys keep whining about how Oprah and the New Agers keep stealing congregations away.

No when Pope Francis is turning himself to the Catholic version of it, y’all suddenly whining about that?

Is there anything that will satisfy?
So let’s say Pope Francis is successful in getting converts … (although I am not even sure that is his goal).

What kind of Catholics will they be? There is nothing distinctively Catholic about his message.
 
But this doesn’t mean we should be off-putting, and it surely doesn’t mean we should take the amount of hate we get as positive encouragement.
Yes, of course, the goal is not to be hated, but JESUS said the world will hate us because of HIM. Pope Francis does not mention Jesus in his top 10 keys to happiness; hence, the world does not hate him. Big problem.
 
I think the important thing to remember is that Catholicism, especially to those who have never heard it before or are living contrary to its teachings, is rather offensive. It’s a bottle that comes with a lot of hard pills to swallow. But this doesn’t mean we should be off-putting, and it surely doesn’t mean we should take the amount of hate we get as positive encouragement.

If “amount of hate” was directly correlated to the amount of Truth in a religion, then Westboro would be the place to be. (They are a great example of reveling in the “The world hates us so we must be doing something right” philosophy.)

And yes, Pope Francis may be the “Darling” of the world, but that’s because of Articles such as Rolling Stone’s and other twisted sources from “Catholics” and “Reliable News”. If people are paying attention, they will realize that Pope Francis is very much in line with his predecessors and all of Church teaching. My complaint is when other “Secular Friendly” quotes from him come up (like this very “Buzzfeed” style approach of a list of 10 things), they don’t seem to hit the deeper chord that will incite any change or challenge non-Catholics. And as stated, this may be a cultural difference, but the problem I’m seeing is not only that people are not feeling any call to conversion, but rather an affirmation of not converting.
No he is not the “darling” of the world because of “Rolling Stone” articles, that is nonsense. I don’t remember John Paul two in that magazine and he was extremely popular and loved. Pope Francis is popular for being so humble, approachable, and yes accepting. Although there are some Catholic that seem to get a high from judging and condemning other, The Jesuit focus on the love and forgiveness Jesus had for people, all people.🤷
 
True happiness comes from being in love with Jesus, receiving Communion, prayer/ devotion…–not mentioned.
Some would say that true happiness comes from giving yourself totally to others. Is it not possible that you don’t like Pope Francis’ list because it isn’t what YOU (and apparently others here) want it to be?

For Pope Francis, the cornerstone of life is being Catholic and celebrating the sacraments. This is a given. He doesn’t start at square one every time he opens his mouth. Do you think he would deny that happiness involves Jesus, communion and prayer? No; as Catholics, it is supposed to be our primary concern. Remember, too, that he isn’t talking just to Catholics. Part of the problem with the controversies over Francis’ statements is that so many people are too stupid to actually grasp what he is saying. One only need to look at the reaction to his statements about economics. Pope Benedict XVI did not want to be pope and I can certainly understand why.
 
Isn’t it a warning sign to you that Jesus told his follows that the world will hate them, yet Pope Francis is the secular world’s darling?
Not really. The crowds loved Jesus as long as he fed/healed/resuscitated them. He wasn’t hiding his message from them - they just didn’t hear it because they were focused on their own agendas. But when he “turned up the dial”, so to speak, it didn’t take very long for the adoring crowds to turn away. Pope Francis is smart - I don’t think he puts too much stock in worldly adulation.
 
Some would say that true happiness comes from giving yourself totally to others. Is it not possible that you don’t like Pope Francis’ list because it isn’t what YOU (and apparently others here) want it to be?

For Pope Francis, the cornerstone of life is being Catholic and celebrating the sacraments. This is a given. He doesn’t start at square one every time he opens his mouth. Do you think he would deny that happiness involves Jesus, communion and prayer? No; as Catholics, it is supposed to be our primary concern. Remember, too, that he isn’t talking just to Catholics. Part of the problem with the controversies over Francis’ statements is that so many people are too stupid to actually grasp what he is saying. One only need to look at the reaction to his statements about economics. Pope Benedict XVI did not want to be pope and I can certainly understand why.
Too stupid to grasp what he is saying? Hmm…I don’t think that’s really the problem. I don’t think condescending attitudes toward brothers and sisters in Christ is going to do anything for a lack of understanding either. He does seem to be talking to ‘the world’ as much if not more than to his flock right now. NOT that talking to the world is a bad thing at all! It’s necessary to address the world. I think I may understand what he’s trying to do, and that is to reel in the world to the truth of Christ in the Church, and if that’s not it specifically, to at least be on a congenial playing field with the world. I think I get it…he is meeting ‘the world’ where it is. I only hope he is mindful of the ‘reconverting’ he also needs to do right here at home…with his own flock. We are also in dire need of it, looking at the Church today. Our PEWS ARE UHUM…A LITTLE EMPTY AT THE MOMENT? Besides, he is not totally responsible for reeling in the world, I do think the laity plays a part in that. You know, the people in the pews that are living their true faith that will ‘attract’ the world? We are ALL called to this. But…gotta get the PEWS to fill up a little more first.
 
Jesus said the truth will set us free, so here’s the truth:

True happiness includes:
  • Freedom from mortal sin
  • Frequent reception of the Eucharist
  • Frequent confession
  • Prayer, fasting, almsgiving
Here’s another truth:

If the Cardinals had known that Jorge Mario Bergoglio would come out with gibberish like this, he would still be Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

To those defending Pope Francis, in the immortal words of Colonel Jessup, you can’t handle the truth!
 
Jesus said the truth will set us free, so here’s the truth:

True happiness includes:
  • Freedom from mortal sin
  • Frequent reception of the Eucharist
  • Frequent confession
  • Prayer, fasting, almsgiving
Here’s another truth:

If the Cardinals had known that Jorge Mario Bergoglio would come out with gibberish like this, he would still be Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

To those defending Pope Francis, in the immortal words of Colonel Jessup, you can’t handle the truth!
Well surely the Cardinals knew what Jorge Mario Bergoglio was like and what he believed before they selected him. The Jesuit are known all over the world and being raised with and working at a Jesuit school for 20 years I can tell you he absolutely did not wantt to be the Pope, he was called to be the Pope. The Jesuit don’t believe in putting themselves higher than anyone else. A priest that is the president of a Jesuit school actual is not the head of the other Jesuits he lives with, the rector would be above him over residence matters.

I think the Cardinals knows much better what the Catholic Church needs today. Seeing as you sound like you think you are a good Catholic are you questioning those who lead the Church being guided by the Holy Spirit just he does say thing the way you want he too. You don’t know what the truth is, only God know that.
 
I think the Cardinals knows much better what the Catholic Church needs today. Seeing as you sound like you think you are a good Catholic are you questioning those who lead the Church being guided by the Holy Spirit just he does say thing the way you want he too. You don’t know what the truth is, only God know that.
God’s chastisments generaly gave the people what they wanted, to their detriment. look at the chastisments visited on the isralites in the desert for 40 years.
if what your saying were true then why would the church need to excomunicate a pope as they did to pope horanus.

we know the truth, the truth is what the church teaches, anyone who contradicts the church is simply wrong. the church teaches that only God can make you happy.
anyone who thinks that your life is about being happy in this world has missed the
whole message of the gospels
 
Yes, of course, the goal is not to be hated, but JESUS said the world will hate us because of HIM. Pope Francis does not mention Jesus in his top 10 keys to happiness; hence, the world does not hate him. Big problem.
You want hate so much, might be happier in the westboro church…
 
macQ,that seems a very unfair comment,
You first said it was “uncharitable”. And it was. Intentioanlly.
Unfair? Perhaps.
I got sick of the ravings about disliking Pope Francis because he’s not “hated”.
Go back and read the posts. Not just the one. All of them.
Sorry, I found it offensive (not to mention inane).
 
If the Cardinals had known that Jorge Mario Bergoglio would come out with gibberish like this, he would still be Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
Er… Pope Francis has been very clear on many other things, has done great things for the Church, wrote a great encyclical, and has re-affirmed much Church teaching to the world.

My problem was with this list, not the Pope and his election. Let’s not doubt the Holy Spirit for this decision, right?
 
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