Does being Christian mean that you need to live a solitary, boring, or unhappy life? Looking at the lives of holy men and women, it can appear that the majority of their lives were suffering and solitude. Does this mean that “fun” has no place in the Christian life? Fr. Josh Johnson takes up this question in today’s episode.
Snippet from the Show
“Faith is our source of joy. We believe in a God who created us so that we might enjoy human happiness – in some measure on earth, in its fullness in heaven. We are meant to have our human joys: the joy of living, the joy of love and friendship, the joy of work well done.”
-St. John Paul II
Shownotes
Glory Story (1:36)
Listener Question (5:08)
Can you be a Christian striving for holiness but still enjoy some of the fun things in life?
Saint Story: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (14:00)
Pier Giorgio was born in Turin, Italy in 1901. His parents were wealthy, but still lived in fairly simple conditions. From a young age, Pier Giorgio showed great compassion for others. He was inclined to serve others and give all that he could to those in need.
Pier Giorgio was involved in many different groups – prayer groups, youth groups. He was even a third order Dominican. While a very kind young man, Pier Giorgio was also someone who took a stand for what was right. He was even arrested once when participating in a Church-organized demonstration in Rome.
Pier Giorgio died in 1925 from poliomyelitis. His funeral was attended by thousands of people whose lives he had touched. He was beatified in May 1990.
Resources
- Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh
- Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson & Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Fr. Josh Johnson
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. He is a presenter in four of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, The 99, and Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation, Pocket Guide to Adoration, and co-author of Pocket Guide to Reconciliation.
