St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

Page 11 text:

WHITHERWARD 9 perfect happiness. The conceptions of what constitutes this state may be different, many may be mistaken in their no- tions of what this happiness consists, still they all desire itg the higher the intellect the loftier the conception of happi- ness, with a corresponding intensification of the yearning for it. It is a truth that everything which exists is naturally fitted for its own peculiar purpose. Hence man also exists for a purposeg he is tending toward some last end. Now in order to find this last end the best course will be to examine into man's nature. It is a well-known truth that man is never satisfied, he is continually seeking something which always seems to be just a little beyond his grasp. No matter what position he may occupy, he is dissatisfied. Some seek satisfaction and peace in the pursuit of wealth and power. Yet while striving for it they are not at peace and, after they have attained it, like Alexander they weep for more worlds to conquer. Wealth or power, desirable as they seem before attainment, do not give the satisfac- tion expected. The ordinary man thinks he would be per- fectly happy did he only possess genius, yet we find that the genius has some other goal in view. No matter what We may do, or seek to do, we do not feel satisfiedg no man seems to have attained his end. There is a desire which is present in all of us, which we are continually trying to satisfy. This is a part of our nature which we cannot es- cape. That which we desire is called happiness, it becomes essential to consider and learn in what this consists. Our whole existence is filled with the desire that things may go well with us and -ours. No matter where we are or what we do this desire is urging us on. Sometimes, it is true, we act without being conscious of its infiuenceg but if we inquire carefully we will recognize its presence in much the same manner that our desire to reach our destination always directs us while on a journeyg we can forget our

Page 10 text:

8 IGNATIAN other. During the moment of its passage it enjoys the warmthg when it is once departed, it is seen no more. Such is the nature of man. During a few years his existence is visible, but what has preceded or what will follow it, is concealed from the view of mortals. If the new religion offer any information on subjects so mysterious and im- portant, it must be worthy of our attention. It is not the purpose to give an account of the con- version of Northumbria, or a histo-ry of the labors of early English missionaries. The thane spoke well, yet he but voiced the intense interest of all people in their future, the yearning of spiritual nature for the something which will satisfy, which will bring perfect happiness. There is no question which occupies men mo-re than this of their ultimate end. Whether or not man is destined for a future life and what that life will be, arouses just as much interest to-day and will cause just as much speculation and search in future ages as it did in the sixth century when Paulinus was asking permission to preach. Some there are who proclaim the belief that the present existence is all sufficient,,that in the span of human life full satisfaction, perfect happiness, is attainable, that all things necessary to fulfill man's desires are present to be sought for and secured, yet all such are dissatisfied. Apparently their own declarations couched in pleasant language, or in confusing terms, mislead them for a time, only, however, to again send them seeking, until they leave this world con- tending that they have attained that which they are still pursuing, the ultimate end of man, perfect happiness. Their condition may be likened to that of the boy passing through a grave-yard at night, whistling to convince himself that he is not afraid of imaginary dangers, which nevertheless pur- sue him until he passes through the darkness and the evils suggested by his surroundings into light and companion- ship. Therefore it may be set down that every man desires

Page 12 text:

10 IGNATIAN purpose temporarily while on the way without having given up our original intention to reach the objective point. We are all seeking the good, even at times going to extremes to obtain it. No action can be performed by any rational per- son unless he sees that it will bring him a resultg this result is always a betterment, a good, else the impelling cause for action would be lacking. Sometimes our actions may be bad but the motive which urges us to perform them is the at- tainment of something which is an advantage over what we possess and consequently an apparent good. This good which we all desire is not only material but a higher one as well, for the material is incapable of satisfying the spir- itual. We desire bodily comfort and at the same time yearn for complete mental peace and satisfaction. We may have contentment for material desires, or even in the intellectual field, but contentment is not perfect happiness, it is a par- tial satisfaction resulting more from comparing what we have attained with what was before possessed and realizing that more is not to be obtained, yet signifying that the natural desire has not been completely met. In other words, we must have spiritual as well as material good. Added to this desire for all good, is a demand that there be absolutely no evil present to counteract the good. We are even dissatisfied if we can see some impending evil or some good which we have not attained. We require good and good alone, our happiness must be complete and per- fect, else we cannot be at rest. Besides the two things just mentioned, we must have a third before we are entirely satisfied. Herodotus tells us that Xerxes was happy and congratulated himself when he beheld his ships filling the waters of the Hellespont and his armies covering the sur- rounding shores. But soon he wept, and being questioned, answered: There came upon me, a sudden pity, when I considered the shortness of man's life, and considered that of all this host, so numerous as it is, not one will be alive