The Virtue of Joy



 “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God within.” -- Cardinal Tmothy Dolan

“Here is the difference between the joys of the world and the cross of Jesus Christ: after having tasted the first, one is disgusted with them; and on the contrary, the more one partakes of the cross, the greater the thirst for it.”  -- St. Ignatius of Loyola

"Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayer." -- St. Francis of Assisi

“Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier. Everyone should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile. Joy shows from the eyes. It appears when we speak and walk. It cannot be kept closed inside us. It reacts outside. Joy is very infectious.”
-- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Joy is prayer -- Joy is strength -- Joy is love -- Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen. "

--Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

What are the characteristics of a joyful person?

They put God first in their lives.
They are patient with God, with others, and with themselves.
They forgive themselves as well as others.
They focus on the good in every situation.
They pray always and put their trust in God.
They are grateful for all things -- for both the good things and the crosses they are asked to bear.
They put others before themselves.




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