Little Sermons on the Catechism

This little book begins with: Greatly mistaken are those who believe and claim that the Christian life is made up of nothing but difficulties, denials and sacrifices. This impression is proof that they have never really tried to live this life. Had they done so they would know that it has more delights than difficulties. Charity, for instance, is, according to our Divine Lord, the essence of the Divine Commandments. Now what is more agreeable to the heart of man than charity and love? Love is life and strength, says St. Augustine, and he who loves his work feels not hardship, suffers not by fatigue, because he loves his task and finds his delight in it. Dear brethren, the difficulties encountered in the Christian life are due mostly to the fact that the exalted destiny for which God has created us, and towards which our every desire and action should be directed, is not properly appreciated. Many Christians are worldly minded. They love that which is vain, prize that which is deceitful, seek that which instead of satisfying the heart, causes but dissatisfaction and discontent. God alone is our beginning (Apoc. i, 8), and must be our only and our last aim. Without Him we cannot find real peace nor true happiness. This truth will to-day form the subject of our contemplation, so that you may be induced in future to direct all your thoughts and actions towards this exalted and blissful end for which we were all created. All created things are imperfect and perishable; hence, incapable of ever satisfying the desires of our souls, which are immortal and crave imperishable happiness. And thus it is that the infinite Good alone, in which all happiness is contained, namely God, can satisfy and appease our desires. Material pleasures, worldly possessions, cannot give this happiness to men. Instead of satisfying the human heart they involve it in cares and unrest. Man's happiness is accomplished only in his union with the Supreme Good, which is his ordained last end, and this union is achieved by the knowledge and love of God. Therefore King David says that his desire will be satisfied when his gaze shall rest upon the glory of the Lord (Ps. xvi, 15). If, then, happiness is the last end of man, and if happiness consists in the knowledge and love of God, it follows that we shall not attain this end in the present life, but we can in this life merit happiness in the future life. This conclusion shows us, at the same time, the means of being happy even in this world, in so far as it is possible. The happiness which will be completed and perfected in Heaven has its inception and origin in this world. The just, who now are most intimately united to their Supreme Good-to God and who will reign with Him throughout eternity, entered into this union before their death. Hence, sanctifying grace which unites by the bonds of love the servants of God with their Divine Master, so that God dwells in them and they in Him, is the root of future glory (John iv, 6). In this way there exists, even in this life, a certain participation in the real and eternal happiness.