Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

268 Pages·2015·1.87 MB·English

by  Robert J. Spitzer

FINDING TRUE HAPPINESS
Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D.
FINDING TRUE
HAPPINESS
Satisfying Our Restless Hearts
Volume One of the Quartet:
Happiness, Suffering, and Transcendence
IGNATIUS PRESS SAN FRANCISCO
Nihil Obstat: David J. Leigh, S.J.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: + The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Orange
March 12, 2015
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations (except those within citations) are from the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible—Second Catholic Edition, © 2006 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
Cover design by John Herreid
© 2015 by Ignatius Press, San Francisco
All rights reserved
ISBN 978-1-58617-956-4 (PB)
ISBN 978-1-68149-655-9 (E)
Library of Congress Control Number 2014949938
Printed in the United States of America
In loving memory of my father and mother,
who provided a foundation for all Four Levels of Happiness in my life,
and for Pope Francis, who points continuously to the joy of the gospel
through his words and actions.
For Thou hast made us for Thyself,
and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.
—Saint Augustine
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter One: Choosing Happiness
Introduction
I. A General Definition of Happiness
II. The First Kind of Desire: External-Pleasure-Material III. The Second Kind
of Desire: Ego-Comparative IV. The Third Kind of Desire:
Contributive-Empathetic Conclusion
Chapter Two: Are We Really Transcendent?
Introduction
I. Is science Really Against the Transcendent?
II. Evidence of the Transcendent Within Ourselves III. Transcendence and
Happiness
Chapter Three: The Comparison Game
Introduction
I. The Four Levels of Happiness
II. The Comparison Game
III. Existential Emptiness
Chapter Four: Escaping Your Personal Hell
Introduction
I. A Three-step Process for Transforming Our Fundamental Attitudes II. First
Fundamental Attitude: What Kind of Purpose in Life Am I Looking
For?
III. second Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Others?
IV. Third Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Myself?
V. What Kind of Freedom Am I seeking?
VI. The Benefits of Moving from Dominant Level One-Two to Dominant
Level Three-Four VII. The Level Three-Four Comparison Game
Chapter Five: Call of the Transcendent
Introduction
I. Is Level Three Enough?
II. The Exterior Call of the Transcendent
Conclusion
Chapter Six: A Dynamic Encounter with God
Introduction
I. A Little Leap of Faith
II. The Self-revelation of God—Jesus Christ III. Church Community and Our
Spiritual Nature IV. The Church as Dynamic Encounter with God
Conclusion
Chapter Seven: Contemplation in Action
Introduction
I. Simple Contemplation
II. Our Image of God
III. Making Common Prayers Contemplative
IV. Ignatian Contemplation
V. Silence, Joy, and Action
Chapter Eight: Divine Inspiration and Guidance
Introduction
I. The Inspiration of the Holy Spirit
II. Discernment of Spirits
III. The guidance of the Holy Spirit
Conclusion
Chapter Nine: Interior Transformation
Introduction
I. Step One: The Prayer of Gratitude
II. Step Two: Imitating the Heart of Jesus by Seeking a Heart of the
Beatitudes III. Praying the Examen Prayer
Chapter Ten: Transcendent Happiness
Introduction
I. Overcoming Cosmic emptiness, Alienation, Loneliness, and Guilt II. A Life
of Unconditional and Eternal Significance III. The Joy of Church
Community
IV. Help of the Holy spirit
V. The Joy of Contemplation
VI. The Redemption of suffering
VII. Noble Cause in the Cosmic struggle between Good and Evil VIII. The
Assurance of Eternal Life with God Conclusion
Bibliography
Notes
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am most grateful to Joan Jacoby, whose invaluable work transformed my
thoughts into a full manuscript, for typing multiple copies of each chapter,
making helpful editing suggestions, and helping with research.
I am also grateful to Karlo Broussard, Camille Pauley, and Justina Miller for
their help in preparing the manuscript.
I would also like to express my appreciation to the Board and friends of the
Magis Institute, who gave me the time and resources to complete this quartet.