Once upon a time…

The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium 2013), The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia 2016), Joy and Exhultation (Gaudete et Exultate 2018). For our Holy Father, joy is a fundamental aspect of Christian life that he often develops in all of his apostolic exhortations. Since the demon spends his time trying to turn mankind away from joy, our spiritual battle is often a recurrent theme in his writings as well.

Pope Francis also speaks of the importance of a good sense of humour. For him “if you don't have a good sense of humour, it is very difficult to be happy,” because a sense of humour “is tied to our ability to enjoy life and be enthusiastic.”

A Saying…

The joy of the Gospel fills the heart and the life of all those who encounter Jesus Christ.

“The joy of the Gospel fills the heart and the life of all those who encounter Jesus Christ. Those who let themselves be saved by Him are freed of sin, of sadness, of emptiness and solitude. Being with Jesus gives great joy again and again (…). I invite each Christian today, in whatever situation he/she may be in, to renew his/her personal encounter with Jesus Christ or at least make the decision to let himself/herself be met by Him and to look for Him everyday without pause. There isn't any motive that can make someone think that this invitation isn't for them because “no one is excluded from the joy that the Lord our Saviour can give us”. Those who take this risk shall not be disappointed; when someone takes a small step towards Jesus, they discover that He has been waiting on them with his arms wide open”. Gaudium Evangili n° 1 & 3.

A Prayer…

Today let us pray for the Church and all Christians that they will always remember that they have been saved by Jesus Christ's victory. May they glow with happiness as testimony for the world.

Three ways to pray for this intention:
1. I click immediately on the tab “I pray” just below, and I carefully read the “prayer to the Holy Spirit for Pope Francis”
2. I say 10 Hail Marys and I click on the tab “I pray”
3. I offer 3 minutes of silence, heart to heart, with God, then I click on the tab “I pray”