Joy is an attitude that people of God adopt, not because of their circumstances, but because they are assured of God’s love and his promise to take care of them, in this life and in the next.
Sacred Scripture speaks often about God’s people who would rejoice and sing for joy in spite of difficult challenges and adversity, trusting in God’s promise of their future destiny.
Christian joy results from in an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. Making a profound decision of faith and hope, Catholics trust that God loves them, knows them by name, and is always with them.
A fruit of the Holy Spirit, joy comes from gratitude and praise in knowing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and from trusting in his promise of the Resurrection and Everlasting life.
Made for joy and called to rejoice always, Catholics celebrate what Jesus did for them, particularly his Incarnation at Christmas and his Resurrection at Easter.
Although joy and happiness are related, joy is more Christian than happiness. Joy is a deeper and more enduring sense of well-being, remaining focused on the spiritual and eternal, regardless of the circumstances.
Happiness is more self-centered than joy, focusing on temporary pleasure and material comfort. Happiness may come and go, depending on the circumstances.
Catholics even find joy in suffering, recognizing that suffering has meaning when joined to the Cross of Jesus, and that Christian joy lightens the burden.
Catholics find joy in their relationship with Jesus:
Joy is more Christian than happiness:
Joy is the fruit of an authentic faith life:
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
John 15: 11
Joy is the sure sign of God’s presence:
God is the real source of joy for Christians:
True joy is found in faith in Jesus:
Christian joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit:
From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between Him and those who would follow Him: “Abide in me, and I in you…. I am the vine, you are the branches.” and He proclaimed a mysterious and real communion between his own Body and ours: “He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 787
Joy is not found in possessions:
Nothing in a finite world will bring infinite joy:
Far from being timid, morose, acerbic or melancholy, or putting on a dreary face, the saints are joyful and full of good humour. Though completely realistic, they radiate a positive and hopeful spirit. The Christian life is “joy in the Holy Spirit”, for “the necessary result of the love of charity is joy; since every lover rejoices at being united to the beloved… the effect of charity is joy”. Having received the beautiful gift of God’s word, we embrace it “in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit”. If we allow the Lord to draw us out of our shell and change our lives, then we can do as Saint Paul tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!”
Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate, 19 March 2018
Overcoming threats to joy:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Called to the priesthood later in life:
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