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Home , Henri Nouwen

C H E E R F U L N E S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A piece of advice Laugh Christian “No one The on which I have cheerfulness can put up Everyone We may insisted repeatedly: is that modest, with the always Clothe hopeful, and Christian be cheerful, gloomy and who wants rejoice, yourself with peaceful joy which disagreeable always and springs from charity man all should cheerfulness, and is protected to have if we will cheerful. day long.” by patience. It is the be an only keep which always It is for those well-regulated vigor Thus progress our head a person finds favor to be sad grow of spiritual life in the a little that throws off all is bound, alleluia with God who do not morbid humors by a certain spiritual life raised consider and depressing natural debt above the and is influences, refusing from strong. in decency, flood of themselves them a lodgement to get along needs to acceptable to be sons in the soul amicably head human to Him. devoted to God. have joy. with others. things. of God. Shepherd of Hermas Archbp. Ullathorne to foot. St. St. th St. Thomas Aquinas St. St. Josemaria (19 c.) (quoting Aristotle) St. Augustine

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Grant us, Let the Leave On no Jesus The soul we beseech Thee, brothers God of one who ever avoid account O Lord our God, * * * * * * sadness to loves a loves God appearing loves give way ever to rejoice in gloomy, sad, Whoever those in the cheerful always devotion to Thee; and clouded, to swims possesses a heart. because our like the world. We sadness, in joy, hypocrites; He loves happiness is God is who work always perpetual and full, but let one Cheer- the keeps holiday, ever be found, persons if we are happy. for God enemy and is joyous in ful who are continually serving the Lord, should be of always in the Author gay, amiable, * * * * * * always a mood for St. Augustine lighthearted. devotion. of all good. gracious, giver. smiling. singing. as is meet. II Cor. 9:7 St. Leonine Sacramentary, St. Leonard of Port St. Maurice St. Therese of Lisieux Collect (ca. 5th C.) St. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Every moment of Today humanity . . . the joy of life itself, If you really Technological Melancholy ‘For behold, when the It is always want to be a every day I have the yearns especially voice of your greeting springtime the joy of honest penitent soul – society has is the and holy love, both penitent and succeeded in chance to choose for the gifts of came to my ears, the in the heart the joy of nature cheerful – multiplying the between cynicism and joy and peace. poison of babe in my womb that loves and silence, you must joy. Every thought I It is our mission as believers, God. above all occasions of pleasure, leaped for joy’ with the eloquence of love devotion. the austere joy stick to your daily but finds great have can be cynical (Lk 1:44) . . . St. John Vianney to be found in periods of prayer, difficulty in giving or joyful. Every word expressed in deeds, to When one dedicated work, which should be become every day the This joy of Elizabeth fervent, generous birth to happiness. I speak can be the joy of a job prophetic ferment of a world is in reminds us of what I will have and not cut short. For happiness has its cynical or joyful. no sadness well done, And you must reconciled by love and a treasure a greeting origins elsewhere: it is tribulation, in my house. the transparent joy make sure that Every action can be animated by divine joy. May those minutes a spiritual thing. is when it comes of holy purity, cynical or joyful. the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Philip Neri of prayer are not Money, comfort, it is from a heart which of sharing, done only when Increasingly, I am whom we honor as the is filled with God. of self-sacrifice . . . you feel the need, hygiene, material "Cause of our joy" help us necessary but at fixed times, aware of all these The Christian can security, etc., may to be faithful to this mission. How often the I want no whenever it is possible choices, to be more purify, fulfill, and often not be lacking, Who more than she shadows of long faced possible. and increasingly I saints. be identified with Don’t neglect but nevertheless, experienced the closeness happy and loneliness engulfing these details. these joys. despite these discover that every of the Lord, source of joy a soul can be blown St. John Bosco If you subject He cannot yourself to advantages, boredom, choice for joy in turn and peace? We now entrust more joyful away by the light despise them. this daily suffering and sadness reveals more joy and ourselves to her maternal worship of God, because and warmth Christian joy is protection in order to be at A sad saint is I can assure you are frequently to be offers more reason of a smile, or of a a sorry saint. granted to those that you found supervening to make life a true all times, but especially now, one is nearer pleasant word. who understand will always in the lives celebration in the credible witnesses St. Francis de Sales natural joys. be happy. to God. John Paul II of many people. house of the Father. of the joy of Christ. St. Josemaria Paul VI John Paul II St. Clare of Assisi Paul VI Henri Nouwen

25 26 Be merry, 27 28 29 30 31 Is it possible not to Keep then your spirits Often a Don’t Holy be in a state of really merry. high, my daughter, Never be single Thou sweet continuous and don’t worry about word, a forget that celebration during The life of a downcast. Hand of God Mary, me no matter what friendly sometimes your earthly life? true Christian happens in this world. givest joy Far from us be any For only smile, is should be a Nothing can happen enough to to my heart, one needs Cause flagging of spirit to me that God does one thing because of poverty, perpetual jubilee, not want. And all give a And grantest to have sickness or the a prelude that he wants, is fearful, depressed that in pain smiling of Our persecutions which no matter how bad it or lonely oppress us. The to the festivals and that I play the may appear to us, is soul fresh faces present life is a time jester's part. Joy, of eternity. really for the best. is sin. life. around. for celebrating. Blessed Crescentia Hoess St. Theophane Venard St. , St. John Chrysostom Pray St. John Chrysostom St. Josemaria writing from prison St. Therese of Lisieux For Us

Virtue of the Month, Aquinas Academy, Gibsonia, PA