“I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the other.” These were Our Lady’s words to St. Bernadette during her third apparition at Lourdes. In the other seventeen apparitions, Our Lady was either silent, spoke a private message to St. Bernadette that was not revealed, or spoke very few words. It seems to me, then, that the recorded words that we have from Our Lady are meant for us to ponder more deeply.
This above message is particularly striking since all humans aspire to happiness. In fact, over 300 years before Jesus Christ was born, the Greek philosopher Aristotle said that “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” Isn’t this true? Every choice that we make has happiness as its ultimate goal. Happiness influences our identity, purpose, relationships, as well as our occupational and social choices.
Throughout history, philosophers have thought long about happiness and have defined it as the fulfillment of a desire. But there is more. Combining the conclusions of both philosophers and theologians we can also identify four major types of desires, and therefore four types of happiness. Knowing these major desires can be helpful to us in that they can show us what drives us and how we seek satisfaction. They can also help give insight into Our Lady’s words to St. Bernadette. Let me outline the four kinds of desires or levels of happiness briefly below:
Level 1: The first kind of happiness can be titled “External-Pleasure-Material.” This happiness is derived from satisfying biological needs like food, water, and shelter. It is focused on one’s self and one’s basic needs and desires and the effects are short lived.
Level 2: The second kind of happiness can be titled “Ego-Comparative.” The desire for this happiness comes from the need for recognition, superiority, or achievement. This happiness remains self-focused, it incorporates our intellect and skills, and as such accomplishments can produce longer-lasting satisfaction than the first level.
Level 3: The third kind of happiness can be titled “Contributive-Empathetic.” The start of this happiness is in having real empathy towards others which leads to wanting to genuinely care for others. One achieves this level of happiness, then, when they surpass selfish interests and contribute positively to others’ lives. This happiness connects to others, engages our creative and empathetic capacities, and can create lasting relationships, making it longer enduring than the first two.
Level 4: The fourth kind of happiness can be titled “Transcendental Happiness.” This level is tied to five desires that humans have toward perfect truth, love, goodness, beauty, and home. In seeking to fulfill these desires, humans aspire towards something always greater. This happiness then points towards broader spiritual or divine realities and requires that we engage with them. As for its duration, level four happiness can last eternally.
In understanding these four levels of happiness better, what can we now make of Mary’s words to Bernadette? It seems that Mary could not promise that any of these desires would be fulfilled for Bernadette in this life. We know that St. Bernadette certainly did not seem to achieve the first two levels of happiness due to the many trials she endured in giving witness to the apparitions, the misunderstandings she had in the convent, and especially her physical sufferings that kept her ill in the infirmary for years. As for the third level of happiness, she constantly offered her sufferings to God for the sake of sinners, so perhaps she had tastes of this happiness. It seems clear, though, that St. Bernadette understood that she was working towards the level four happiness that Mary promised her in Heaven. Some of her last words as she endured great pain and clung to her crucifix on her deathbed were, “All this is good for heaven!”
What can we take from this for our own lives? First, it is good that we want to be happy; God made us this way and wants to fulfill this desire. Second, it is important to note that though none of the four levels of happiness are bad, the last two levels are more important and longer lasting. Third, like St. Bernadette, we cannot be guaranteed to achieve perfect happiness in this life.
So, what are we pursuing? Are we only seeking the quick-fix happiness of levels one and two that the world often offers, or do we pursue the delayed gratification of a Christian life well-lived in levels three and four? When suffering comes, as it always does, how do we respond? With St. Bernadette, let us work towards and keep hope for eternal happiness with our God in Heaven.
“If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces…never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. That’s the beauty of being alive…we can always start all over again. Enjoy God’s amazing opportunities bestowed on us. Have faith in Him always.” -St. Bernadette
Comments