Posted on 08/01/2014 7:01:41 AM PDT by Gamecock
Full Title: Pope Francis Reveals Top 10 Secrets to Happiness; Advises Taking Care of Nature, Honoring Sundays, Respecting Others' Beliefs
Pope Francis has shared his top 10 secrets to a happy life in an interview with an Argentinean newspaper, and advised people to slow down and enjoy a "healthy sense of leisure," to take care of nature, and to respect other people's beliefs, among others.
Catholic News Service posted Pope Francis' list on Tuesday, published in part in the Argentine weekly "Viva."
The list goes as follows:
1. "Live and let live." Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, "Move forward and let others do the same." ADVERTISEMENT
2. "Be giving of yourself to others." People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because "if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid."
3. "Proceed calmly" in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist – gaucho Don Segundo Sombra – looks back on how he lived his life.
"He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool" of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water – to have "the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life."
4. "A healthy sense of leisure." The pleasures of art, literature and playing together with children have been lost, he said.
"Consumerism has brought us anxiety" and stress, causing people to lose a "healthy culture of leisure." Their time is "swallowed up" so people can't share it with anyone.
Even though many parents work long hours, they must set aside time to play with their children; work schedules make it "complicated, but you must do it," he said.
Families must also turn off the TV when they sit down to eat because, even though television is useful for keeping up with the news, having it on during mealtime "doesn't let you communicate" with each other, the pope said.
5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because "Sunday is for family," he said.
6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. "We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs" and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.
"It's not enough to give them food," he said. "Dignity is given to you when you can bring food home" from one's own labor.
7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation "is one of the biggest challenges we have," he said. "I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?'"
8. Stop being negative. "Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, 'I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'" the pope said. "Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."
9. Don't proselytize; respect others' beliefs. "We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing," the pope said.
10. Work for peace. "We are living in a time of many wars," he said, and "the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive" and dynamic.
The Roman Catholic Church leader has often preached about finding joy away from material possessions, and on the importance of protecting the environment.
Earlier this week, Francis became the first pope to make an official visit to a Pentecostal church. On Monday he spoke at the Evangelical Church of Reconciliation in the southern city of Caserta, Italy, and apologized for the persecution of Pentecostals that the Catholic Church was involved with in the past.
He added that people should not be surprised to see him visit evangelicals, and called them "his brothers."
Amen.
What’s up with that?!?
(Couldn’t resist.)
***spewing lunch all over the monitor and keyboard***
Warn people, will ya???????
Maybe it’s just me, but I missed reading the references about being in Christ and reconciled to God.
For real?????
You don’t recognize him?
Does the name Joel Osteen ring a bell?
Cover your keyboard warning and ping......
Not really. Why should I know him?
bump
You know the Pope is always misquoted and/or it’s taken out of context.
The real ten rules will be along shortly.
They may start out”thou shalt not...”
St. Francis never said that. Give it a rest.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3187713/posts
Did you notice that, in his secrets to happiness, Pope Francis never mentioned God, prayer or the Sacraments? He didn’t even mention family Mass on Sundays.
All his secrets to happiness appear to be secular. A material pope in a material world.
He wears a rainbow bracelet.
That may suit you yet it may not suit the person you are trying to teach...
Some people you can get to with a tack hammer...Others require a jack hammer...
Oh my! With this pope it’s really not about Christ is it.
How’s that working out for you? :-D
I’d really like to be able to call you out on that statement but I’m afraid you’re closer to the truth than I’m happy with in this case.
FWIW, my top 10 list is more like:
1. Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul
2. repeat as necessary.
3. there is no three.
I just don’t get this pope, his list should have been:
1. Jesus Christ
2. Jesus Christ
3. Jesus Christ
4. Jesus Christ
5. Jesus Christ
6. Jesus Christ
7. Jesus Christ
8. Jesus Christ
9. Jesus Christ
10. Jesus Christ
If we didn’t know this was Francis’ words, no one would have guessed it was a pope speaking.
Has worked out quite well actually...In fact, it has worked out well for lots of folks...A guy named Billy Sunday comes to mind...
Well there is something we can agree totally on. I’m serious when I say that Catholics need to be very carefully of where the Catholic Church is headed. More and more scripture needs to be the source for truth.
I wonder if Frank was directing #9 at FRomans.
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