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The concept of Sadness in Christianity

According to the Catholic Church, sadness is a concupiscible passion that signifies rest in evil and is positioned between fear and anger, thus completing all other passions. Early Christianity connects sadness to divine observation and indicates that it has been a fundamental aspect of human nature since creation. Philosophers like Heraclitus also explored this emotion, representing it as a deep unhappiness that can lead to severe consequences, like death, especially when separation from loved ones occurs.

Synonyms: Sorrow, Unhappiness, Grief, Despondency, Misery, Melancholy, Gloom, Dejection, Woe, Depression, Anguish

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Christian concept of 'Sadness'

Christianity Books

Significance in Early Christian church and writers:
Early Christianity Books

From: Ante-nicene Fathers

(1) A characteristic of Heraclitus, from which some schools of philosophers derive their state, showcasing how they have received their impressions.[1] (2) The text indicates that people will have their gods to be spectators even of sadness, suggesting a connection between the divine and human emotions.[2] (3) Sadness is a motion or affection of the mind that existed from the beginning of man’s creation and was introduced into human nature.[3] (4) A feeling of unhappiness that could potentially lead to death if the person were separated from another, showing the depth of their emotions.[4]

Early Christianity (also known as Early Church) refers to the period starting roughly in the 6th century BC up until 325 A.D. during which year the first council of Nicaea was convened. Popular literature includes the writings by the early Church Fathers which forms the basis of later Christian theology.

Significance in Global Christian community:
Catholic Church Books

From: Summa Theologica (English translation)

(1) This is a concupiscible passion, representing rest in evil, coming between two irascible passions, following fear and preceding anger, and it completes all other passions.[5]

The Catholic Church is a global Christian community with over a billion members, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is led by the Pope and emphasizes the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Catholicism is a denomination centered on the teachings thereof. It has a rich theological and cultural heritage.