Way to Inner Peace, published in 1954, explores eight different themes on the path to a life of contentment and serenity. The first theme, Inner Peace, teaches that by “recognizing our own littleness in comparison to what we ought to be,” we both recognize the Greatness of God and find more patience with the faults within ourselves and others. On the theme of Goodness, Archbishop Sheen tells us that we find that which we look for in our lives. When we overlook good in favor of scandal and misdeeds, we invite these evils into our hearts. Regarding Happiness, it is not simply a matter of creating joy, but of actively working to dispel sadness and melancholy. When we internalize the fact that “...we are loved by God,” then we can cast off the shadow and live in the light of God’s joy. The section on Virtue includes chapters regarding selflessness and the evils of insincerity, as well as a chapter on war. At a macro level, war may seem out of place in a section on the virtue of the individual. But when we zoom in to the micro level, we see that war is the symptom of the moral failures in each of us. Another key to inner peace is Learning. Being able to wonder at the world, to learn, and to know and improve ourselves—only through such humility can we reach wisdom. With Wisdom comes the knowledge of when to speak and when to be silent. It teaches us how to practice patience and helps us to avoid judging others. Those that would be wise must listen more and speak less. In the section titled You, Archbishop Sheen warns against the vices of hatred and judgment. Crowd out the evil thoughts with good, for “A mind filled with ideas of love and beauty has little room for evil notions.” Finally, there is Faith, where we find relief from our burdens and cares. When we have the humility to look inward, view our faults with an open eye, and beg God’s help and forgiveness, then we are at our best.
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