Worldliness Will Not Make You Happy
Begin with God and end with God and yours will be the happiest life. Saint John Vianney.
Whatsoever shall befall the just man, it shall not make him sad: but the wicked will be filled with mischief., Proverbs 12:21
Saint Bonaventure says: A spiritual joy is the greatest sign of divine grace dwelling in the soul.
Christian Principles
Romans 12: And be not conformed to this world: but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and the acceptable and the perfect will of God.
Maxims of the World
Saint Alphonsus summarizes the maxims of the world: The maxims of the world are: It is necessary to possess wealth and property, to seek the esteem of others, to indulge every amusement within our reach.
Saint Alphonsus tells us: Worldly-minded people shun solitude, and it is quite natural for them to do so; for it is in retirement that they are troubled with qualms of conscience.
Saint Alphonsus continues later: The inclination of worldlings is to be in company with friends, to talk and divert themselves; but the desire of the saints is to be in solitary places, in the midst of forests, or in caverns, there to converse alone with God, Who in solitude familiarly converses with souls, as a friend with His friend.
