“O Lord, far be it from the heart of Your servant who confesses to You, far be it from me to think that whatever joy I feel makes me truly happy.

For there is a joy that is not given to those who do not love You, but only to those who love You for Your own sake.

You yourself are their joy.

Happiness is to rejoice in You and for You and because of You.

This is true happiness and there is no other.

Those who think that there is another kind of happiness look for joy elsewhere, but theirs is not true joy.

Yet their minds are set upon something akin to joy.”

–Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin (New York: Penguin, 1961), 228-229). (10.22)

One response

  1. caseyharm

    Amen: the true joy comes from above, is not made by man, but only received by them to whom it is been given.

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