Is it okay to enjoy life?

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Milena

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So, I’ve been wondering something lately. I know as a catholics we are called to live our lives for the Lord. But can we still enjoy life? Like go see movies, shop, watch tv, and so on…but still be virtuous people?
 
Yes!

But movies, shopping, and TV aren’t the richest joys around to enjoy.
 
Why do you think we’re notxallowed to enjoy life?
We do get sorrow in this world, but we also get joy.
Both Jesus and Mary are reported in the Bible as going to parties.
 
Yes, we can enjoy those things. Why would you think we couldn’t? Being Catholic doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life.
 
Of course! The Lord made all of creation and placed us in it. He created all things and said it was good. When you are living for the Lord what He wants for us will bring us joy. The Lord doesn’t want us all depressed and sour going through life.

So, enjoy that movie that came from the creativity the Lord gave someone. Enjoy the wonders that technology can provide because the Lord gave people the ability to create things to assist others (even assist them in their downtime and recreational pleasure). Enjoy shopping whether it be because you’re hanging out with a friend as some down time or because you find gems of someone’s creativity or that you can use to keep your mental state in a positive light.

Don’t use them to excess to the point of excluding God, but He gave us all free will and people can use it for ill but most make and do wondrous things with it.
 
I ask this because I know in church our priest warns about “Living in the world” like being so obsessed with earthly goods that we are disconnected from God. And if that’s the case does that mean we have to live like nuns or friars and live in solitude from everything??
 
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Someone forgot to tell the nuns/sisters not to have fun. Every convent I’ve visited in my discernment sets aside time to have recreation and play games, go for walks, exercise, play music, watch movies (religious or documentary), and just enjoy each other’s company.

Living in the world is very much a spiritual state that is evidenced by our thoughts and actions. Just because someone is enjoying something “in the world” doesn’t mean they are necessarily “living” in it solely.
 
I’m sorry if I sounded rude to our holy brothers and sisters. But I had never really heard what they did in their spare time. And so had no idea they watched movies!
 
Milena said:
I’m sorry if I sounded rude to our holy brothers and sisters. But I had never really heard what they did in their spare time. And so had no idea they watched movies!
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You didn’t sound rude at all. Obviously each community has different standard for if/when they watch anything, but they do get to do stuff. One sister I talked to recently likes to go with her students on ski trips because she likes to ski when possible.
 
Keep in mind also that there are degrees of attachment. A person who views films, goes shopping and watches TV is not necessarily obsessed with these activities. It’s not an all-or-nothing situation. I’m confident that your priest did not mean no one should ever be doing these things!
 
No you’re not rude! Don’t worry about it.

It may be a shock to you, but do you know that to not have enough fun is a sin in itself?
“On the contrary, The Philosopher (Ethic. ii, 7; iv, 8) reckons the lack of mirth to be a vice.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, St II-II, Q. 168, A. 6.
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The virtue that governs fun is called eutrapelia, and fun is needed because it is the mind and heart’s repose as rest and sleeping is for the body. There are three things that constitute eutrapelia:
  1. Fun should not be indecent or injurious in deeds or words.
  2. Fun should not lose the balance of one’s mind altogether. Or, as St. Francis de Sales says of it, it should not become work.
  3. Fun should be done in the appropriate place, time, persons, and circumstances.
See here.
 
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Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut! From what I’ve gathered is that so long as God is still the center of my life I can still enjoy “earthly things” but I just can’t let them consume me.
 
Milena said:
So, I’ve been wondering something lately. I know as a catholics we are called to live our lives for the Lord. But can we still enjoy life? Like go see movies, shop, watch tv, and so on…but still be virtuous people?
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If you’re asking this question, you have crossed over from a healthy spirituality to something bordering on scruples or some other sort of obsessive spirituality. You should probably talk to a priest.
 
Be attentive to what you watch and hear. Some movies contain inappropriate scenes and language. The same for too many TV shows.
 
I played dodge ball with a bunch of nuns

And they were unfairly good 😂😂:joy:got my butt whooped and we outnumbered them (was 17)

They played basketball and a game they thought us called “kill ball” which is someone has to protect someone else from being hit with a ball

Having healthy fun is what gets us through the trials
And let’s us get an idea of what being happy is so we don’t walk into heaven confused
 
Milena said:
I ask this because I know in church our priest warns about “Living in the world” like being so obsessed with earthly goods that we are disconnected from God.
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I mean, you’re kind of answering your own question. As long as the thing you’re enjoying isn’t becoming an obsession that replaces God, it’s fine.

Do you think Jesus never played a game or told a joke or enjoyed some music? Of course He did.
 
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Absolutely it is important to enjoy your life and do what you love.
 
Despite my love for music, I hope I’ll be able to give it up permanently, but that’s simply my own spirituality.
 
Happiness is something a Christian is supposed to have. That doesn’t mean we’ll always be happy because bad events in life affect us just like anybody else but as our love for God deepens we gain a sense of peace even if exterior events make life very hard.

Movies, nice food, shopping, etc., aren’t nearly the best things of life but it’s acceptable to enjoy these things.
 
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