But we can ask whether every form of joy is really a fruit of the Spirit. Christ says “you will know them by their fruits”. Is joy therefore an unmistakable sign? The Book of Proverbs (14:13) states that laughter sometimes hides sadness; and we know also from our own experience that not every “joy” – as, for example, malicious joy (cf. Proverbs 24:17) – deserves this name.For St Thomas Aquinas joy is something only human beings can experience. An animal can have delight but no joy, because “we do not speak of joy except when delight follows reason; and so we do not ascribe joy to irrational animals”. There is no joy in merely sensual matters. The object of joy, however, is an apprehended good. There is so much good around us and we are invited by God, the creator of all that is good, to enjoy it: the beauty of nature, art and music, but also science and our knowledge of it. All this can be grasped and enjoyed by a rational human mind and can impart to us a deep joy.
When St Paul writes about joy he has primarily another, even higher form in mind, namely a spiritual joy which comes from communion with God himself whose redeemed children we are. It brings about not only a delight but also peace in our hearts despite all difficulties and even sufferings in this world. St Paul writes to the Church in Corinth “I am overjoyed in all our affliction” (2 Cor 7:4). This is the kind of peace only God’s Spirit can give in the firm belief that there is another world of which this life is only a foretaste.
But we can assume that St Paul also had a natural human expression of joy in mind when he wrote “my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 3:1). As God’s beloved children we do not have to be afraid, because we know that we are redeemed through Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore we should not feel gloomy but enjoy what God has given us and share this joy with others.
Poor AQ. Animals can't experience joy? Didn't he ever see a dog's tail wag, or hear a cat's purr? When I come home and my dog is jumping up and down and giving happy yelps of glee and my cat is wiggling around on the floor...what are they doing? Grieving? In fact, I think they smile.
ReplyDeletePlease can we stop attributing human qualities and emotions to animals? If joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit how can your dog or cat possess it?
ReplyDeleteYes, they are pleased to see you (stimulus-response, positive conditioning), and yes, you are emotionally connected to this creature who depends on you, but let's keep things in perspective.
"The whole project began more than five years ago when I wrote an article for St. Anthony Messenger magazine (July 2003) with a similar title: “Will I See My Little Doggy in Heaven?” In that article, I set forth 10 reasons why I believed the whole family of creation is somehow included in God’s plan of salvation. I believed already at that time that I had presented a good bit of evidence from Scripture, from Christian teaching and tradition and from the example of St. Francis of Assisi that “God wishes other creatures besides humans to be included in the plan of salvation."
ReplyDelete~~by Friar Jack Wintz, O.F.M.
now, if these words of Friar Jack are to be believed, mustn't we also believe that animals (God's creation) also experience the intense emotional states as we do? have you never seen the deep sadness in the eyes of a dog or cat that indicates this "sad" state of mind? c'mon now - they even have vetrinary psyciatrists; if animals can't experience these emotions, what is the need for such?
I read this post with interest and then consulted the catechism:
ReplyDelete"Animals are God's creatures...by their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness."
"It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons."
I think the key is in the word persons. Whatever place animals have in creation, (and I believe that nothing good will be lost), the gifts of the holy spirit are given to persons in order for them to work for the body of Christ and the Kingdom.
I agree with Anon.- I'm not disputing that you love your dog, but I'm pretty sure he ain't got the gifts of the Holy Spirit!
Higher animals have emotions just as we do. The point is that the joy which is the gift of the Holy Spirit is not simply an emotion. Apart from anything else, God is joyful, and since God doesn't, in His divinity, have a body, God doesn't have, qua God, any emotions.
ReplyDelete