Spirituality : source of joy and youthfulness in the magisterium of recent popes

Abstract

Today's young people are facing unique life situations and challenges. Joy and youthfulness are two characteristics that are very often associated with this period in life. These can offer benefits for both the young people themselves and also to persons that are living during other life phases like adulthood and old age. This study delves into what constitutes Christian joy and how this joy, that is deriving from God, fulfils and completes the human person. The first chapter looks at the concepts of happiness and joy. The concept of happiness is first discussed in the philosophical sphere where, among other factors, it is mainly associated with pleasures and feelings. The theological meaning of happiness and joy is then discussed in view of the Old and the New Testament. God's joy is appreciated from creation and all the way to Jesus' proclamation of the Good News. The second chapter analyses the characteristics of Christian joy. Human joys, which Jesus even used as examples during his ministry, will be used in order to shed light on God's love towards humanity, particularly that love which considers the human person in all its aspects. Joy is then appreciated as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, a joy that permits the human person to quench the thirst for God even during moments of difficulty and persecution. This is illustrated with examples of holy people who emanated Christian joy in a distinctive way during their evangelisation. The third chapter focuses on joy as a characteristic that is uniquely experienced during young age. The Church is considered as the eternal youth, inspiring all society with hope resulting from its eternal youthfulness through the Holy Spirit. The characteristics of young people are then explored, differentiating between adolescence, youth and young adulthood. The focus is then shifted on the Magisterium of recent Popes, mainly John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul T, John Paul II and Benedict XVI; pointing out how Christian joy was present in their life and in their teaching and evangelising mission. In the final chapter, the relationship between the church and young people is analysed, especially through World Youth Days. The themes used for World Youth Days are examined in order to appreciate and be aware of the journeying method that the Church is using during these special encounters with youth.