University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstone Projects Capstones 2019 The aH ppy Saint: The alC l to Holiness is a Call to Happiness Sari Wilson University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/mapp_capstone Part of the Catholic Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Other Psychology Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Wilson, Sari, "The aH ppy Saint: The alC l to Holiness is a Call to Happiness" (2019). Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstone Projects. 170. https://repository.upenn.edu/mapp_capstone/170 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/mapp_capstone/170 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The aH ppy Saint: The alC l to Holiness is a Call to Happiness Abstract Research has shown the benefits of er ligion and spirituality to an individual’s well-being. And yet, over the last several decades, the Catholic Church has seen a decline in affiliated members, especially amongst adolescents. Furthermore, this same population of adolescents has experienced exponential increases in anxiety, depression, and suicide rates, which begs the question: how must the Church respond? This paper examines this decline in religious affiliation and decrease in adolescent well-being, looking specifically towards character strengths and virtue for remedies. Finally, using the new science of positive psychology, this paper will propose that holiness is found through living the virtuous life, which ultimately leads to a life of fulfillment. Keywords virtue, character, Catholicism, positive psychology, ethics, virtue ethics, morality, happiness, eudaimonia, adolescence, religion, spirituality, well-being, character strengths Disciplines Catholic Studies | Christianity | Ethics in Religion | Other Psychology | Practical Theology This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/mapp_capstone/170 Running Head: THE HAPPY SAINT 1 The Happy Saint: The Call to Holiness is a Call to Happiness Sari Wilson University of Pennsylvania A Capstone Project Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Positive Psychology Advisor: Kathryn Wessling, Ph.D. August 1, 2019 2 THE HAPPY SAINT The Happy Saint: The Call to Holiness is a Call to Happiness Sari Wilson [email protected] Capstone Project Master of Applied Positive Psychology University of Pennsylvania Advisor: Kathryn Wessling August 1st, 2019 Abstract Research has shown the benefits of religion and spirituality to an individual’s well-being. And yet, over the last several decades, the Catholic Church has seen a decline in affiliated members, especially amongst adolescents. Furthermore, this same population of adolescents has experienced exponential increases in anxiety, depression, and suicide rates, which begs the question: how must the Church respond? This paper examines this decline in religious affiliation and decrease in adolescent well-being, looking specifically towards character strengths and virtue for remedies. Finally, using the new science of positive psychology, this paper will propose that holiness is found through living the virtuous life, which ultimately leads to a life of fulfillment. Keywords: virtue, character, Catholicism, positive psychology, ethics, virtue ethics, morality, happiness, eudaimonia, adolescence, religion, spirituality, well-being, character strengths 3 THE HAPPY SAINT Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Catholic Conception of God ............................................................................................ 8 Religion and Spirituality Increase Well-Being ............................................................... 9 The Problem: Adolescent Population Declines in Religious Communities ................................. 10 Issue One: Heavy Reliance on Duty Ethics .................................................................. 18 Issue Two: Lack of Relational Connection ................................................................... 22 The Solution: The Call to Holiness, The Call to Happiness ......................................................... 24 Adolescents and The Call to Holiness .......................................................................................... 28 Virtue, Holiness, and Happiness ................................................................................................... 31 Aristotle’s World: Virtue and Eudaimonia ................................................................... 31 Aristotle and Catholicism: Call to Eudaimonia and Virtue Ethics................................ 35 The Modern Twist: What Science Has to Say about Eudaimonia and Virtue .............. 38 Connecting Virtue to Science: Positive Psychology ..................................................................... 40 History of Positive Psychology ..................................................................................... 40 PERMA Model on Well-Being ..................................................................................... 42 Relationships: An Essential Element ............................................................................ 45 The Missing Piece: Spirituality ..................................................................................... 47 Psychology, Religion and Spirituality .......................................................................................... 50 4 THE HAPPY SAINT The Psychological Perspective ...................................................................................... 50 Spiritual Health and Well-Being as Relational Health and Well-being ........................ 52 Positive Relationships and Virtue ................................................................................................. 55 Values in Action: Science of Character Strengths and Virtues .................................................... 57 Character Strengths: Being and Doing ......................................................................................... 62 VIA Character Strengths and Catholicism: Virtues, Strengths, and Tradition ............................. 65 Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance .................................. 66 Connections to the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit .................................................. 71 Character Strengths, Relationships, and Spirituality .................................................................... 74 The Personal Domain .................................................................................................... 74 The Communal Domain ................................................................................................ 81 The Transcendental Domain ......................................................................................... 85 Positive Relationship to God: Why it Matters ........................................................... 86 Sanctification: Attributing the Sacred to Character Strengths................................... 91 Putting it into Action: Identifying Signature Strengths ................................................................ 98 Putting it into Action: Developing Signature Strengths ............................................................. 101 Deepening Relationship to Self through Character Strengths ..................................... 101 Deepening Relationship to Others through Character Strengths ................................ 104 Deepening Relationship to God through Character Strengths .................................... 107 Sainthood: An Anecdote to Youth Depression and Anxiety? .................................................... 109 5 THE HAPPY SAINT Future Directions ........................................................................................................................ 114 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 143 Appendix B ................................................................................................................................. 145 Appendix C ................................................................................................................................. 149 Appendix D ................................................................................................................................. 152 Appendix E ................................................................................................................................. 153 Appendix F.................................................................................................................................. 155 Appendix G ................................................................................................................................. 156 Appendix H ................................................................................................................................. 160 Appendix I .................................................................................................................................