The Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence famously states that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

If God has given us the right to pursue happiness, what is the best way to go about doing that?

Psalm 1 give us a clue: “If you would be happy, never walk with the wicked….” In other words, keep good company. Don’t hang around with those who think happiness means gaining wealth, fame, and the satisfaction of our desires at any cost. St. Paul gives us another hint in his second letter to the Corinthians: “God loves a cheerful giver.” Apparently we are to share what we have without reluctance, recognizing that we are called to be generous with others as God is generous with us.

And what example does Jesus provide about how to be happy? He kept company with a motley crew of friends. He demonstrated how to find a balance between serving others and having time for prayer and rest. He often attended joyous celebrations — weddings, banquets, religious festivals. He told us to love God and love our neighbor as ourself, linking our happiness to the happiness of others.

St. Benedict devised a rule to help us do just that. He created a way for diverse people to live together amicably in a communal setting. He broke up the day into specific times for prayer, work, meals, leisure, and sleep so as to avoid pietism, workaholism, gluttony, and indolence. He allowed wine at table and extra food when the occasion warranted it. He set up schedules for the monks to serve each other through kitchen work, liturgical duties, and care of the sick.

Does this way of life lead to happiness? Most people eventually come to learn that happiness isn’t a continual state. However, it does pop up frequently when we find contentment by leading a useful life in the company of others. In the prologue to his Rule, St. Benedict says, “As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” It sounds like a pretty happy life to me.