Review of Finding Happiness

Why the second book, Finding Happiness? The Abbot realized that English library sections devoted to "self improvement" were growing fast. And yet, people in his very secular culture, "at a deeper level," did not seem happy. He removed all books with "happy" in their title from a library shelf. He was not impressed. He wrote another kind of "happy" book to counteract the "spiritual longing that is part of modern life."  This Benedictine Abbot thought he knew the real answer. Abbot Christopher probably would pick the 6th Century if he could go back in time. He would wag his finger at Gregory the Great for removing Acedia (spiritual apathy) from the list of 8 "thoughts" which became the 7 deadly sins.

Born in Australia and educated in England, Abbott Christopher covers a lot of intellectual ground with skill and wit when he speaks. His real strength is as a teacher who involves his audience with imagination. He also has the ability to deliver information about desert fathers and Greek philosophical background to monasticism in an easy way. Example: if you're bored don't just sit there trying to contemplate beauty and goodness...say the short form of the John Cassian prayer which influenced Benedict, Lord come to my assistance. God will figure it out for you.

The book is a good read for the Lenten season. His thesis is that you must discipline externals and train thoughts to seek the freedom of interior happiness. Pleasure should be an enjoyable bonus, not an activating life principle. He offers this book not only for those who share gospel faith, but for all who could benefit by a more accurate vision. He describes happiness as the living activity of a soul expressing virtue. He believes that even before Christianity man knew the necessity of interior awareness.

The Abbot insists that the wisdom in monastic stepping stones is an important help to recapturing virtue in society. He cites a relationship to the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. He seems happy to tell the story of overwhelmed Catholic priests offering a confessional ear to those of any faith during the 2007 Edinburgh festival. Listening is a virtue. A roomful of people taking 5 minutes to reflect on one phrase of the beatitudes from the Sermon On The Mount would make him very happy.