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

Page 9 text:

HEART YEARNINGS 7 longing for a perfect state of peace, a lasting hope of eternal happiness, his every thought, word and action tending to bring him nearer to this goal. To him true happiness is the one great end, not mere pleasure, but happiness in an unalloyed state, devoid of misery, freed from anxiety, unrest and the weariness of life. Emperors seek it as does the laborer of the field-the beggar sitting in his hovel and the rich man in his palace-the savage in his pathless waste and the pampered social favorite in the city. Youth is fraught with promise, with hopes, the fruit of which are disenchantment. Ambition whispers and conjures up the day when honor, wealth and earthly pleasures shall be possessed in abundance, giving promise of perfect happiness to be found through these means. But what a rude awaken- ing awaits these fond hopes? The once gorgeously tinted dreams give place to the hard realities of life. Even though after many years of ceaseless toil some deem themselves fortunate by reason of their attainment of riches and position, still is there something lacking. They have seemingly at last grasped the cup of happiness only to find it made bitter by the dregs it holds. Successful in numerousicampaigns, with half of Europe bowing before his throne, Napoleon still sought for more power, only to lose all and die an exile. He sought perfect happiness in life, but it eluded his grasp. Elba and Ver- sailles, what a contrast! The tears of Alexander shed on the realization that no more worlds were his to conquer, and the wonderful yet unsatisfying knowledge of Solomon evi- dence the same unpalatable truth. Colton has said: Anthony sought for happiness in love, Brutus in glory, Caesar in dominion, the first found disgrace, the second disgust, the last ingratitude, and each destruction. From the foregoing we can clearly see that man is for- ever seeking perfect happiness and therefore the question naturally arises: how can he attain this, the one great object of life? Can earthly possessions, bringing with them all material goods, appease the yearnings of his heart? Wealth,

Page 8 text:

igearii earninga True happiness is not the growth of earth, The soil is fruitless if you seek it there: 'Tis an exotic of celestial birth, And never blooms but in celestial air. Sweet plant of paraddiseg its seeds are sown In here and there a breast of heavenly mould, It rises slow, and buds, but ne'er was known To blossom here-the climate is too cold. Whilst wandering along the path, we pass over a bleak and dreary desert, imposing in the simple grandeur, yet far more desolate and uninviting than Sahara's torrid waste. Ahead in the dim distance a beautiful spot is seen wherein everything to be desired is found, the home of the one great treasure death offers to mankind-the abode of perfect happi- ness. Hastening our steps we near the spot only to find that it has faded from view, reappearing far off on the edge of the horizon as before. Once more do we push forward with quickened pace 5 once more are we met with the repetition of the seemingly magical disappearance. Over and over again do we seek this entrancing spot, yet never are we brought to a realiza- tion that what we strive to gain is but a mirage, magnificent yet unreal. Thus is it in life, the mirage of perfect happi- ness ever beckoning us on., Yet while it is but a mirage in this life, in the life to come a transformation takes place and it assumes a definite form. Here it is found to be but a mockery, there a reality, here a thing of fancy, there an entrancing fact. Within the soul of every human being there exists a cer- tain craving for perfect happiness, an inborn, unceasing de- sire, before which all worldly things are like chaff swept be- fore the wind. In the lower type of creatures 'we find that once their cravings are satisfied, contentment is theirs. This, however, is not true of man. In him there is a continual

Page 10 text:

8 JGNA TIAN pleasure and honor-these are the ambitious man's earthly goal. Let us enquire into the nature of each and see if on their attainment perfect happiness ensues. Question mankind in general in regard as to which of the three above mentioned material goods constitutes the foundation of happiness and the answer will most likely be- wealth g pleasure, honor, and even life itself become sacri- ficial gifts in the amassing of wealth. And for what reason? Surely not for the gaining of peace, if we would believe the words of those upon whom it has smiled and who testify that riches are a hindrance rather than an instrument useful in the attainment of happiness. 'Wealth is but a means to an end, an object by which our natural physical wants are satisfied. When used with mod- eration it is a blessingg when but an instrument of over- indulgence, it becomes a curse. As Cicero says: Nothing is greater proof of a mean and grovelling disposition than to be fond of riches, while nothing is more noble and exalted than to despise money if thou hast it not, and if thou hast it to employ it in acts of beneficence and liberalityf' Closely akin to wealth is avarice, even as father and child. Wealth begets avariceg avarice destroys what peace the mind has formerly possessed. A man avaricious in nature is for- ever seeking to attain a greater amount of wealth. The unrest caused by this desire, together with the fear that what he has hoarded already may be lost, renders happiness and contentment impossible. On all sides we see men corrupt and unscrupulous yet rich in worldly wealth, thereby teaching us that riches cannot always be recognized as a measure of virtue, but frequently rather the contrary. Would that we could see behind the mask magnificence wears before its admirers of wealth, and read the abiding thoughts of its possessors. Then could we realize more fully its utter futility as a means to perfect happiness. V