CHRISTMAS - NATALE: TO BE HOLY TO BE HAPPY - ESSERE SANTI PER ESSERE FELICI

[ EN  - IT ]

Pope Francis: “ ….. Christmas is a quintessential joyous feast, but we often realize that people, and perhaps ourselves, are caught up in many things and in the end there is no joy, or, if there is, it is very superficial. Why?

I was reminded of that expression by the French writer Léon Bloy: “the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint” (The Woman Who was Poor, see Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate, 34). Therefore, the opposite of sadness, that is, joy, is linked to being saints. As is the joy of Christmas. Being good, at least having the desire to be good.

Let us look at the Nativity scene. Who is happy, in the Nativity? I would like to ask you children, who love to look at the little figures ... and maybe even move them a bit, putting them in different places, angering their dad, who arranged them with such care!

So who is happy in the Nativity scene? Our Lady and Saint Joseph are full of joy: they look at the Child Jesus and they are happy because, after a thousand worries, they have accepted this gift of God, with so much faith and so much love. They are “overflowing” with holiness and therefore with joy. And you will tell me: of course! They are Our Lady and Saint Joseph! Yes, but let us not think it was easy for them: saints are not born, they become thus, and this is true for them too.

Then, the shepherds are full of joy. The shepherds too are holy, certainly, because they responded to the announcement of the angels, they immediately rushed to the stable and they recognized the sign of the Child in the manger. It was not obvious. In particular, in Nativity displays there is often a young shepherd, who looks towards the scene with a dreamy, enchanted air: that shepherd expresses the astonished joy of those who welcome the mystery of Jesus with a child’s spirit. This is a trait of holiness: to preserve the capacity to be amazed, to wonder at the gifts of God, His “surprises”, and the greatest gift, the ever new surprise is Jesus. The great surprise is God!

Then, in some Nativities, the bigger ones, with so many characters, there are the trades: the cobbler, the water trapper, the blacksmith, the baker ... and so on and so forth. And everyone is happy. Why? Because they are “infected” by the joy of the event in which they participate, that is, the birth of Jesus. So their work is also sanctified by the presence of Jesus, by His coming among us.

And this also makes us think of our work. Of course, working always has an element of fatigue, this is normal. But in my homeland I knew someone who never stopped working: he pretended to work, but he didn’t work. He didn’t make an effort, you understand! But if each person reflects a little of Jesus’ holiness, it takes very little, a small ray – a smile, a little attention, a courtesy, an apology – then the whole work environment becomes more “breathable”, does it not? The heavy atmosphere that sometimes we men and women create with our arrogance, closures and prejudices is alleviated, and work improves, producing more fruit.

There is something that makes us sad in work and sickens the work environment: it is gossip. Please, do not speak badly of others, do not gossip. “Yes, but I don’t like that person, and that one…”. Look, pray for him, but do not speak badly of him, please, because this destroys: it destroys friendship, spontaneity. And criticising this person or that one. Look, it is better to be silent. If you have something against him, go and tell him directly. But do not speak badly of him. “Ah, Father, it comes naturally to gossip…”. But there is a good medicine for not gossiping, I will tell you: biting your tongue. When the wish comes, bite your tongue and in that way you will not gossip.

Even in the workplace there is “the holiness next door” (see Gaudete et exsultate, 6-9). Even here in the Vatican, of course, I can testify to this. I know some of you who are an example of life: they work for the family, and always with that smile, with that healthy, beautiful industriousness. Sanctity is possible. It is possible. This is now my sixth Christmas as Bishop of Rome, and I must say that I have known several saints who work here. Saints who live their Christian life well, and if they do something bad they apologize. But they go ahead, with the family. One can live in this way. It is a grace, and it is so beautiful. Usually they are people who are not show off; simple, modest people, but who do so much good in their work and in relationships with others. And they are joyful people; not because they always laugh, no, but because they have a great serenity inside and know how to transmit it to others. And where does that serenity come from? Always from him, Jesus, the God-with-us. He is the source of our joy, both personal and family, both at work.

So my wish is this: to be holy, to be happy. But not picture-postcard saints! Normal saints. Saints in flesh and blood, with our character, our faults, even our sins – let us ask for forgiveness and go ahead – but ready to let ourselves be “infected” by Jesus’ presence in our midst, ready to come to Him, like the shepherds, to see this Event, this incredible sign that God has given us. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Lk 2: 10). Will we go see Him? Or will we be occupied with things?

Dear brothers and sisters, let us not be afraid of holiness. I assure you, it is the path of joy. Merry Christmas to all!

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS - IT - EN 

DENMARK: KLASSEN TID - EMPATHY IN SCHOOL

Denmark has figured 

out how to teach kids

empathy and make

 them happier adults

Empathy, or the ability to read another person’s emotions, is a critical life skill. Many fear children are losing it—and that they’ll be less happy as adults as a result.

A University of Michigan study of nearly 14,000 college students found that students today have about 40% less empathy than college kids had in the 1980s and 1990s. Michele Borba, an educational psychologist and author of Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our-All-About-Me World, argues that that the rise of narcissism and loss of empathy are key reasons for why nearly a third of college kids are depressed and mental health problems among kids are on the rise.

Denmark, the land of the happiest people in the world (pdf), takes empathy seriously, with an hour of empathy-building each week a required part the national curriculum for all kids aged 6 to 16.

In Klassens Tid, or class time, students talk through any individual or group-level problems. Perhaps someone is being left out, or bullied, or there is a disagreement that can’t be solved among a few students.

“Together, the class tries to respect all aspects and angles and together find a solution,” says Iben Sandahl, co-author of The Danish Way of Parenting—What the happiest people in the world know about raising confident, capable kids. Kids’ issues are acknowledged and heard as a part of a bigger community, she says. “When you are recognized, you become someone.”

Sandahl is a former teacher and says Klassens Tid was always the highlight of her week. The goal is to create a safe and cozy atmosphere—the Danes call it hygee—where problems are aired and kids learn how to put things in perspective. There’s even a special cake the children themselves bake—the recipe is here—to eat while talking, and more importantly, listening.

The practice has been around since the 1870s, but was codified in a 1993 education law and expanded since then. It is meant to help teachers as well as students. “You have the opportunity, as a teacher, to reflect on your own efforts to create an inclusive learning environment where students want to learn and join,” says Sandahl. “It is a way to let the class community grow.”

Measuring its effectiveness is difficult. Danes are famously among the happiest people in the world due to everything from high levels of income equality and the generosity of its citizens to each other, though some wonder whether this is because they have very low expectations for happiness. The country’s remarkable social safety net means there are fewer reasons for people to feel unhappy, since they know they have good health care, education, and elder care. Even so, one recent study showed 38% of Danish women and 32% of Danish men received treatment for a mental disorder at some point during their life, higher than global averages and certainly high for such purportedly happy people.

Happiness is a complex concept, so perhaps Klassens Tid‘s “success” is simply recognizing that empathy is a skill and not an inherent trait. Kids need to practice it the same way they work at math or soccer.

There’s a useful lesson in Klassens Tid for non-Danish parents and teachers too. If we want our children to be kind and think about others, we need to model that behavior and think of how, exactly, to teach it.

With these tips from Borba—and that Klassens Tid cake recipe—even non-Danes might have a shot at raising happy, considerate people.

http://qz.com/763289/denmark-has-figured-out-how-to-teach-kids-empathy-and-make-them-happier-adults/  

JOIE DE VIVRE: WHAT IS REALLY?

Joie de vivre: what is it really?'   

Tirana, Albania, March 23-25, 2014

           March 23 through 25 Tirana (Albania) hosted a meeting of the delegates of University ministry in Europe, organized by the CCEE Catechesis, School and University (University Section) Commission on the theme "Joie de vivre : what is it really?".  

          Priests and lay people involved in University ministry in many European cities have listened to the report ofProfessor Kaja Kaźmierska, who holds a chair of Sociology at the University of Lódz (Poland), and the report of Father José Clavería, who is now serving as a parish priest in England, but has a long experience of University ministry in Vienna and in Spain.

         Professor Kaźmierska has outlined some characteristics of today’s youth  ("Preparing the soil" was the title of her paper), describing "what happens in the lives of students today. ....

Joie de vivre: what is it really?'  

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Joie de vivre: was bedeutet das wirklich?“

Tagung für Universitätpastoral

Tirana, Albanien, 23. – 25. März 2014

             Vom 23. bis 25. März fand in Tirana (Albanien) die von der Kommission “Katechese, Schule und Universität – Sektion Universität” des CCEE veranstaltete Tagung der Delegierten für die Universitätspastoral in Europa unter dem Thema: “Joie de vivre: was bedeutet das wirklich?” statt.

 In der Universitätspastoral engagierte Priester und Laien aus vielen europäischen Städten folgten den Berichten von Fr. Prof. Kaja Kaźmierska, Dozentin für Soziologie an der Universität von Lodz (Polen), und Don José Clavería, derzeit Pfarrer in England mit einer langjährigen Erfahrung in der  Universitätspastoral in Wien und Spanien.

          Frau Prof. Kaźmierska hat einige Merkmale der heutigen Jugend aufgezeigt (Titel ihres Berichtes war „Die öffentliche Meinung erforschen”) und dabei geschildert „was im Leben der Studierenden heute geschieht“.............

Joie de vivre: was bedeutet das wirklich?

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« Joie de vivre : qu’est-ce vraiment ? »

Rencontre de pastorale universitaire

Tirana, Albanie, 23-25 mars 2014

           Du 23 au 25 mars s’est déroulée à Tirana (Albanie) la rencontre des responsables de la pastorale universitaire en Europe, organisée par la Commission « Catéchèse Ecole Université - Section Université » du CCEE, ayant pour titre : « Joie de vivre: qu'est-ce vraiment ? ».

           Les prêtres et les laïques engagés dans la pastorale universitaire de nombreuses villes européennes ont suivi le rapport présenté par Mme le Prof. Kaja Kaźmierska, Professeur de sociologie auprès de l'Université de Lódz (Pologne) ainsi que celui du P. José Clavería, actuellement prêtre en Angleterre, mais avec une longue expérience de pastorale universitaire à Vienne et en Espagne.

          M.me le Prof. Kaźmierska a voulu esquisser un certain nombre de caractéristiques de l'univers des jeunes actuel .....

Joie de vivre: qu'est-ce vraiment?

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‘Joie de vivre : che cos’è veramente?’

Incontro di pastorale universitaria

Tirana, Albania, 23-25 marzo 2014

          Dal 23 al 25 marzo si è tenuto a Tirana (Albania) l’incontro dei responsabili della pastorale universitaria in Europa, organizzato dalla Commissione “Catechesi Scuola Università - Sezione Università” del CCEE sul tema “Joie de vivre: che cos’è veramente?”.

           Sacerdoti e laici impegnati nella pastorale universitaria di molte città europee hanno seguito la relazione della Professoressa Kaja Kaźmierska, docente di Sociologia presso l’Università di Lódz (Polonia) e quella di P. José Clavería, attualmente parroco in Inghilterra, ma con una lunga esperienza di pastorale universitaria a Vienna e in Spagna. 

          La professoressa Kaźmierska, ha tratteggiato alcune caratteristiche del mondo giovanile odierno ......

Gioia di vivere: che cos'è veramente?