Be Holy, Be Happy

Facts of Life

“A new study suggests that joining a religious group could do more for someone’s ‘sustained happiness’ than other forms of social participation, such as volunteering, playing sports or taking a class,” The Washington Post reported.

“A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology by researchers at the London School of Economics [LSE] and Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained happiness lies in participation in religion.”

Said Mauricio Avendano, an epidemiologist at LSE and an author of the study, in a statement, “The church appears to play a very important social role in keeping depression at bay and also as a coping mechanism during periods of illness in later life.”

Nicolas Poussin, “Sts. Peter and John Healing the Lame Man,” 1655 — “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” ... He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the Temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.” [Acts 3:6, 8].

No Reason for Being Sad

“For man was made an intelligent and free member of society by God who created him, but even more important, he is called as a son to commune with God and share in his happiness.” (Gaudium et Spes, No. 21)