The greatest freedom is freedom from worldly pleasures!

[Della]

The only pleasures we should strive for are the pleasure we receive from the services of God. Eating, for example, should not be done for pleasure, but so we may gain strength to do God’s will. Sex should be undertaken for the sake of procreation alone. Pleasures that do not draw us closer to God, should not be sought. Not that seeking these pleasure for their own sake are unlawful, but that they will not lead to sainthood.

We most certainly may enjoy the beauty of the earth and enjoyment of food, drink, and all other innocent pleasures. What we are not supposed to do is overindulge in them or be attached to them. IOW, we are to control our appetites and desires, not divest ourselves of them for they were created by God for our good, if we use them as intended and not in place of God or abuse their use. This requires real virtue not false virtue that congratulates itself on its own supposed perfection.

To think that God wants us to enjoy football while eating pizza and drinking beer is a fallacy, and will not lead to sainthood.

Such innocent pleasures can lead us to sainthood if we remember who created all the good things of the earth and use them properly. Self-denial can be a good thing, of course, but it should be done under the direction of a spiritual director so that pride doesn’t become the motive instead of service to God and others.

 

[puzzledtoo]

nuntym: Thank you for sharing your and St. Thomas’ thoughts on this thread. Very insightful in my opinion.

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

nuntym: Thank you for sharing your and St. Thomas’ thoughts on this thread. Very insightful in my opinion.

Thank you puzzledtoo. It is just that I have always looked at The Imitation of Christ and having it as the end-all for spirituality with much scepticism since it is meant for those in the religious orders. The Summa Theologiae is a much better spiritual book for me, imho. It brooks no ambiguities and is meant for everyday living; besides, it was written by a saint, who is a Doctor of the Church no less!

 

[puzzledtoo]

I’ve just begun reading the online text of the imitation of Christ in the last couple of days since its mention in this thread. I’ll check out the summa theologiae when I’ve finished if I can find it online.

 

[PelagiathePenit]

The greatest freedom is the freedom from needing to be right.

 

[Della]

A very good resource for lay people would be the writings of St. Francis de Sales who wrote specially for laity. It’s usually best to read material geared towards one’s own state in life, especially for those to tend to be scrupulous.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

“True freedom isn’t having the privilege of choosing between good and evil, but the ability to choose only good. For few choose evil for themselves without first believing it is good.”

From No Man Is an Island, Thomas Merton, quoting an unnamed philosopher.

God has the ability to choose only good and only chooses good, because he is all good. God enjoys freedom that no man will enjoy until they align their wills with His.

Jim

 

[Katherine438]

Did anybody have the chance to view and comment upon The Stations of the Cross by St Francis of Assisi?

youtube.com/watch?v=oZ9om4YElns

I watched them … very inspirational.

I also think your beliefs are inspirational … although not the only way for a good Catholic to live.

I will not judge you and I pray you do not judge others who choose to live in a different way.

God Bless You

 

[Robert_Sock]

I watched them … very inspirational.

I also think your beliefs are inspirational … although not the only way for a good Catholic to live.

I will not judge you and I pray you do not judge others who choose to live in a different way.

God Bless You

There are many paths to holiness and I never intended to suggest that we all forgo worldly pleasure.