An Invitation To The Happy Life

By: Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty, Bishoy Boshra Behnam

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

When St. Augustine turned 30 years old, he threw a very peculiar party to celebrate his birthday. He had invited his friends for the three days of continuous celebration. His mother was also in attendance, and at that time, he hadn’t yet repented from his previous life and returned to the Church. What had preoccupied him during this party was not the fact that he had reached the age of complete manhood; rather, he was concerned with the meaning of happiness. He proposed a question for discussion: “What is a happy life?” St. Augustine argued that deep inside every person there is a yearning for happiness. The group realized that happiness remained elusive, intangible, and sometimes unrecognizable. He started by proposing that happiness is to have everything that one desires; he then offered that even if one has everything that one desires, he would still fear tomorrow - when one might lose everything he possesses. Ironically, one loses happiness before he loses his possessions - out of fear and worry over tomorrow. Therefore, St. Augustine concluded, one cannot live happily “ever after,” even after amassing riches and possessions! St. Augustine continued: “The only One we can possess, without being afraid of losing, is the Lord Himself. He is not merely the Source of happiness, rather He is Happiness itself. We can behold Him eternally, and happiness would be attached to us and live inside us forever.” St. Augustine published this interesting discussion later in his life, and this publication was considered one of his distinguished endeavors that touched the lives of many! This book discusses some topics: the happiness that challenges the valley of tears, the dynamic and constantly renewable happiness, the offering of joy and happiness, practical steps to enjoy happiness.. And answers some questions: How could I be happy, while I am struggling with sin? who is the happy person? Is there anyone happier than a true Christian? Finally, it refers to some quotations from the Patristic literature about the happy life.