St. Francis de Sales used to give this advice: "In your dealings with others be joyful; be convinced that it is by your joy and by your serenity that you will attract others to God."
Joy is a means of apostolic conquest.
Aside from the immense advantages of joy for the soul which develops it, St. Francis stresses here the precious results joy obtains in winning other souls to divine truth.
After a four-year sojourn in a house of studies, a young theologian was about to take leave; he had been a conscientious student and a remarkable merrymaker during his stay. The Father Rector sent for him and said, "Thanks to you, thanks to your joy and cheerfulness during recreation and on recreation days, you have contributed powerfully in preserving several vocations." What a beautiful recompense! And what a fruitful apostolate!
If it is true that a weeping willow bears no fruit, one cannot emphasize the contrary sufficiently, namely, the marvelous fruits produced by a radiant joyful attitude in a religious community. And not only are there vocations preserved, as in the case mentioned, but what enthusiasm, what stimulus does not the cheeriness of several individuals give to those who suffer physically or morally.
Don Bosco used to say that he was full of the old Nick. Happy the temperaments who resemble him! And if I do not possess the gift of joy naturally, I will work to acquire it by forgetfulness of self and thoughtfulness of others.
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
* The words used in this meditation have been altered. The title is "Be Gay." Nearly every word 'joy' was used in place of 'gaiety' and 'joyful' was used to replace 'gay'. Considering how some words has morphed into something else, I felt it would be better to modify the reflection to minimize the unnecessary distractions that would arise.
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