Can a Catholic be an optimist? That depends. Because if you mean the secular brand of popular optimism that affirms “Every day in every way everything is getting better and better”; a superficial optimism that promotes change for its own sake because it considers all change to be “progress”; or the notion that “new” necessarily means “improved,” then the answer is a resounding “No.”
But if you’re talking about an optimism that flows from the virtue of hope in God because He is kind, merciful, and faithful to His promises then, “Yes, a Catholic can be an optimist in as much as Catholicism can be considered optimistic in its teachings and outlook.” Now, of what does that teaching and outlook consist?
Namely, that the Catholic Church holds a positive view of the human person, the world, and man’s ultimate destiny. This Catholic optimism follows from our belief in God’s love, mercy, and the hope of eternal salvation. So, here are five reasons, among many, for a Catholic to be an optimist:
1. Dignity of the Human Person: Catholicism teaches that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and endowed with inherent dignity and worth (CCC 1700). This belief affirms the goodness and value of each individual, highlighting his or her potential for growth, holiness, and ability to participate in the divine life.
2. Redemption and Salvation: Catholicism teaches that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all of humanity has been redeemed and offered the gift of salvation. And that’s the distinction between redemption and salvation: while our redemption is an accomplished fact, our hope for salvation requires our cooperation with God’s grace (Cf., Mt 24:26). It is the Catholic belief in God’s saving grace and mercy, that is the source of our hope and authentic Christian optimism. Because He offers us the possibility of forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life with Him.
3. The Goodness of Creation: Catholicism recognizes the goodness of God’s creation. Paragraph 302 of the Catechism says, “the world, and man, attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end, but rather that they participate in Being itself, which alone is without origin or end.” That is to say we participate in the life of God who is, “the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13). This understanding affirms the inherent goodness of the created world and that the potential for us all to find joy, fulfillment, and meaning in our lives rests in God.
4. The Kingdom of God: Catholicism teaches about the Kingdom of God, which is both present and yet to come. The Church believes that God’s kingdom is already established in the person of Jesus Christ and is continually unfolding in the world through the work of the Holy Spirit. This belief inspires hope and optimism, as it points to the ultimate triumph of God’s love, justice, and peace: “the peace the world cannot give” (John 14:27) because “the kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Rather, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).
5. Resurrection and Eternal Life: Catholicism affirms the belief in the resurrection of the dead and the promise of eternal life. The Church teaches that at the end of time, there will be a bodily resurrection, where souls will be reunited with their glorified bodies (CCC 997). Now, if this belief in the resurrection and the hope of eternal life does not instill optimism, then nothing will, because it is this doctrine that assures Catholic believers that death is not the end, but rather a passage to a new and everlasting existence with God.
While Catholicism fully acknowledges the reality of sin, suffering, and the challenges of life (in fact, I would go so far as to say that only Catholicism fully acknowledges these realities), it nevertheless maintains an optimistic outlook rooted in God’s love, redemption, and the hope of eternal salvation. This optimism is grounded in the belief that God’s grace is at work in the world, transforming individuals and society, and leading mankind (including you and me) towards the fulfillment of our ultimate destiny in union with God. That’s the best ground of optimism. And that’s no nonsense.