The Key to HappinessThe Key to Happiness

André GarciaAndré Garcia

Based on the teachings of Based on the teachings of Prof. Plinio Corrêa de OliveiraProf. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

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The never-ending ... The never-ending ...

and not always commendable ...and not always commendable ...

CC OO MM PP LL AA II NN TT SS

Today, the Country is in chaos ...Today, the Country is in chaos ...In the old days, everything was better ... In the old days, everything was better ...

The Government only adds to this confusion ...The Government only adds to this confusion ...The Courts resolve nothing ...The Courts resolve nothing ...

The Church is in crisis ...The Church is in crisis ...

My wife only complains ...My wife only complains ...

The children are always crying ...The children are always crying ...

Costs are always rising ...Costs are always rising ...

My computer breaks down ...My computer breaks down ...

What a life!What a life!

Still another Still another complaint? complaint?

Why wasn’t I born into a better situation?

And why don’t I win the lottery?

And why so much struggling and suffering, transforming life into a valley of tears?

But to complain does not help.But to complain does not help.It only makes things worse ...It only makes things worse ...

What a difficult life!!!What a difficult life!!!

Could it be Could it be that you have that you have

forgotten a forgotten a veryvery

important important thing?thing?

Jesus was born in a stable ...Jesus was born in a stable ...

BORROWED!BORROWED!

He rode a donkey ...He rode a donkey ...

He multiplied the bread and fish in baskets ...He multiplied the bread and fish in baskets ...

He used a place to preach that was ...He used a place to preach that was ...

He worked a miracle on a boat ...He worked a miracle on a boat ...

He was buried in a tomb ...He was buried in a tomb ...

Only the Cross Only the Cross was His !was His !

He acceptedHe acceptedHis conditionHis condition

of having of having nothing,nothing,

and He never and He never complained!complained!

Do you still have Do you still have any complaints?any complaints?

I hope not!I hope not!

The Key to Happiness

In this valley of tears, happiness is the eve of

the day of the fight; the fight is the eve of

the day of glory.

But the day of glory would not have glory

if the fight did not have sufferings,

if it were without difficulties,

if there were no sorrows!

One person should admire

all the symbolism reflected in another person,

so that life does not become a Sahara desert,

but rather a park of perfumed trees.

If we would treat each other like this,

the qualities of one person would pass to the other.

We should admire!

The soul open to admiration is open to

everything - all the stars and suns!

The soul closed to admiration remains locked within itself.

And he ends by being envious, throwing stones at the sun and insulting

the stars!

For one with a soul that admires,For one with a soul that admires,

when he fixes his attention on something,when he fixes his attention on something,

however small it is,however small it is,

the thought that soon comes to him is this:the thought that soon comes to him is this:

How is this a reflection of God?How is this a reflection of God?

Or in what way does it not reflect Him?Or in what way does it not reflect Him?

Is it beautiful? Is it good? Is it true?Is it beautiful? Is it good? Is it true?

If not, why isn’t it? If not, why isn’t it? 

It is the sense of the sacral

that moves this

search and discovery.

When one has this position of soul in a constant way,

life comes to unveil fabulous horizons!

Saber olhar os acontecimentos como um espelho no qual se refletem ora a Sabedoria, ora a Grandeza,

a Justiça ou a Misericórdia infinitas;

Saber perceber nos fatos o Invisível que se tornou presente;

Saber apreciar um instante de felicidade como um começo da Eternidade;

Saber suportar momentos de dor como ocasiões privilegiadas de semelhança com o Coração de Jesus.

To be always at ease,without complaining about anything,

one should have a certainhabitual perspective

when looking at life ...

To know how to look at things as a mirror thatat times reflects Wisdom, at times Grandeur,

or Justice, or infinite Mercy;

To know how to comprehend the events of lifeis to go beyond the visible reality to perceive

the Invisible that became present.

Saber olhar os acontecimentos como um espelho no qual se refletem ora a Sabedoria, ora a Grandeza,

a Justiça ou a Misericórdia infinitas;

Saber perceber nos fatos o Invisível que se tornou presente;

Saber apreciar um instante de felicidade como um começo da Eternidade;

Saber suportar momentos de dor como ocasiões privilegiadas de semelhança com o Coração de Jesus.

One should consider the profound meaning

that situations and circumstances present to us.

To know how to appreciate an instant of happinessas a beginning of Eternity;

To know how to support moments of sorrow asprivileged occasions of uniting with the Heart of Jesus.

On the threadbare fabric of our lives,

there are torn parts that will be reconstituted,

Broken images that will be restored

to their original shapes,

Faded tones that will return

to their full colors,

when we will rediscover in the persons,

events and circumstances that surround us

a greater dimension than the superficial reality!

The key of happiness is the discovery of the

profound meaning of the situations and

circumstances of life,

It is the vision

of this fabulous dimension

that goes beyond the surface of

reality!

THE END