Happiness in this life : a passionate meditation on earthly existence / Pope Francis ; translated from the Italian by Oonagh Stransky.
Material type: TextLanguage: English Original language: Italian Publisher: New York : Random House, [2017]Edition: First editionDescription: viii, 259 pages ; 20 cmContent type:- text
- unmediated
- volume
- 9780525510970
- 0525510974
- Works. Selections. English
- 248.4/82 23
- BX2350.3 .F7513 2017
Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book | Bedford Public Library Non-Fiction | Non-Fiction | 248.482 FRA | Available | 32500001740936 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
A collection of homilies, speeches, and "messages of the day" that brings together Pope Francis's wisdom on finding happiness in the here and now
For Pope Francis, the appreciation of our everyday lives is a spiritual undertaking. Joy is a divine attribute, and creating joy around us an essential part of faith. Every homily and speech in this book delivers, in warm, engaging language accessible to believers and nonbelievers alike, a key lesson, instructing readers on finding love and happiness in a chaotic world.
Along the way, Pope Francis discusses the sanctity of women's rights, talks about how the love of sports can bring out our best qualities, and explains why fighting discrimination is the essence of loving thy neighbor. He shares personal stories and anecdotes from his life, provides comforting messages of hope, and discusses the ways flawed families can make you a better person. The core ideas of Francis's papacy--mercy, support for marginalized people, and diplomacy--shine through.
Praise for Happines in This Life
"Though the title of the book mentions happiness, this collection of thoughts addresses something much deeper--joy. Bringing together excerpts from Pope Francis's sermons, speeches, prayers, and addresses, these pieces address a range of themes, from mercy and humility to simplicity and family. . . . Readers will be encouraged to clear away the cacophony of modern society and embrace the simplicity of joy. A book as loving and encouraging as the man himself seems to be."-- Booklist
"With this wide-ranging collection of writings, homilies, and addresses, the current pontiff dispels any notion that religious practice is dour and antiquated. . . . It brings together the pope's most affecting passages to inspire Catholics (and those of other faiths) to lift up those around them."-- Publishers Weekly
"Reminiscent of the gentle encouragement of the Dalai Lama . . . Family-centered and practical--especially on difficult matters of familial contention--these homilies are, on the whole, gentle encouragements to do the right thing. . . . [This] collection offers clear insight into the pope's doctrinal concerns."-- Kirkus Reviews
Publisher Annotation: A collection of homilies, speeches, and "messages of the day" that brings together Pope Francis's wisdom on finding happiness in the here and now.
Excerpt provided by Syndetics
Reviews provided by Syndetics
Publishers Weekly Review
With this wide-ranging collection of writings, homilies, and addresses, the current pontiff dispels any notion that religious practice is dour and antiquated. True to his origins as a Jesuit priest, Pope Francis places the laity above all else and urges Catholics, especially young adults, to use their grace to help the less fortunate: "This is the prayer that a young person should make: 'Lord, what do you want from me?'" Francis endorses reading the Beatitudes in order to find true inner happiness and exhorts readers to memorize them in the same way they would memorize the Ten Commandments. Francis rails against consumerism, arguing that the desire to continually acquire material goods only leads to spiritual emptiness: "Let us distance ourselves from the longing to possess things, from the idolatry of money, and from wastefulness." This hodgepodge of quotes grouped loosely together is nonetheless inspiring. It brings together the pope's most affecting passages to inspire Catholics (and those of other faiths) to lift up those around them who suffer. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.Booklist Review
Though the title of the book mentions happiness, this collection of thoughts addresses something much deeper joy. Bringing together excerpts from Pope Francis' sermons, speeches, prayers, and addresses, these pieces address a range of themes, from mercy and humility to simplicity and family. Ultimately, though, each piece points to the joy of following God. The pope addresses families, single people, youth, and others, constantly reminding all that they can indeed find ultimate happiness in this life. Each excerpt is short, well suited for digesting slowly over a long period of time or reading all at once for a broader perspective. Readers will be encouraged to clear away the cacophony of modern society and embrace the simplicity of joy. A book as loving and encouraging as the man himself seems to be.--Engel, Christine Copyright 2018 BooklistKirkus Book Review
Homilies and other short inspirational writings by the leader of the Catholic Church.Inner freedom, writes Pope Francis (Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children from Around the World, 2016, etc.), "means, in a certain way, freeing yourself from your culture and its mindset." The sentiment could have come straight out of the 1960s, and it's one of several surprises to be found in this slender collection. Most popes over the course of history have been concerned not so much with this life as the next one, and this one doesn't let that emphasis slide, either. If "the secret to a good life is to love and to surrender to love," it is also to surrender to the Holy Trinity, Mary, and other celestials. Indeed, the organizing principle of the good life, by the author's reckoning, is the Beatitudes, those blessings on the downtrodden and unfortunate from the Sermon on the Mount: "Read them every day, try not to forget them. They are the Law that Jesus gives us!" If there are moments reminiscent of the gentle encouragement of the Dalai Lama"Don't stifle your dreams," for instance, and "Let's talk about the Lord with joy"there is also plenty of Jesuitical rigor, especially when the pope turns to more controversial matters: it seems clear, for example, that although Francis allows that women have a role to play in the church, that role will not include priestly professions anytime soon. Family-centered and practicalespecially on difficult matters of familial contentionthese homilies are, on the whole, gentle encouragements to do the right thing, at least as the pontiff interprets right and wrong.The author's 2015 encyclical Laudato si' makes for more inspired reading, perhaps, but this sometimes-stern but often friendly collection offers clear insight into the pope's doctrinal concerns. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.Author notes provided by Syndetics
Pope FrancisJorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. On March 13, 2013, he became the Bishop of Rome and the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.
Oonagh Stransky 's first translation of Pope Francis, The Name of God Is Mercy, was published by Random House in 2016. She has also translated Roberto Saviano, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Giuseppe Pontiggia, Carlo Lucarelli, and others. She currently lives in Tuscany.