Theme
Witnesses on joy
A joy that is not lightness: it came through something.
A few words
As he sows, true love's tears weepeth, In the sweat of his brow reapeth, But brings with him life's sheaf home.
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!
It seemed intended by the blessed Providence of God, that I should be blind all my life; and I thank Him for the dispensation.
Prayer is the breathing of the soul.
Let every stitch be an act of love for God.
To live without a faith, without a patrimony to defend, without sustaining the truth in a continual struggle, is not living but getting by.
All 67 witnesses on joy
- Adam de Saint-Victor Prayer sung, which puts faith in the mouth before it puts it in the head.
- Adelaide Anne Procter Thanksgiving that remembers to give thanks for the shadow too.
- Alexandros Papadiamantis Praising God in the language of one's own village, without changing register for the printed page.
- Amanda Berry Smith The inner freedom of someone who no longer waits for permission; joy that passes through contempt.
- Ambroise d'Optina Short advice, given from a bed, that sets a life upright again.
- Baal Shem Tov Fervent prayer: to enter with one's whole being into every word addressed to God.
- Benedetta Bianchi Porro Joy that remains as the body comes undone, and the certainty of being awaited.
- Carlo Acutis Living as an original, not a copy; making the ordinary a path to God.
- Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Ordinary life ordered toward Easter: living each day awaiting the night when all is raised up.
- Charles Péguy Hope as a little girl who leads the great virtues on, believing still in the morning.
- Charles Spurgeon Prayer as a rope pulled from below that makes heaven ring, and joy held even in trial.
- Charles Wesley Doctrine set to song so that busy hands can pray it.
- Chiara Luce Badano The trusting yes to God in suffering, and the heart that still loves when all is taken away.
- Christopher Smart Praise that goes on where the mind gives way.
- Clément d'Alexandrie Faith that runs through the ordinary day, down to its plainest gestures.
- Cyprien Rugamba Joy given back to God: art, dance and a whole life turned into praise.
- Dominique Savio Holiness at a teenager's height; cheerfulness held to be part of the road.
- Edel Quinn Service given to the last of one's strength, without losing joy.
- Élisabeth de Hongrie Royalty that becomes service, charity that lowers the crown.
- Élisabeth de la Trinité The prayer of the interior: to seek God not far off but in the depths of oneself, and to abide there.
- Émilie Gamelin Letting grief open into charity, serving the poor with joy.
- Éphrem le Syrien Prayer as a happy thirst: drinking from a spring no one will ever drain.
- Fanny Crosby Gratitude that turns deprivation into song: what is missing becomes the very space of praise.
- Festo Kivengere Forgiveness offered to the enemy as a strength, and the joy of the Gospel carried through trial.
- Frances Ridley Havergal The whole and joyful consecration of self, offered limb by limb and day by day.
- François d’Assise Poverty as radical freedom, creation as family.
- George Fox Inward listening preferred to every authority, and light found inside the night itself.
- Gertrude d'Helfta Prayer as friendship: to let oneself be wounded by love and answer the One who speaks to the heart.
- Hildegarde de Bingen Creation shot through with a divine sap, and the praise that rises from all that lives.
- Isaac Watts Turning frailty into song, patient creativity under long confinement, a gift for putting complex faith into words ordinary people could sing.
- Isabelle de Villena Prayer given back to the women who already carried it, and were no longer heard.
- Jacques de Saroug Prayer that becomes song, and the humble request to be a simple instrument in the breath of God.
- Jean Bosco Joyful patience with beginners; authority exercised only through affection.
- Jean de Cronstadt Daily, stubborn prayer at the heart of the city and its misery, not far from the world, but within it.
- Jean de Dieu Doing good without keeping count, because the mercy one has received is not counted either.
- Jean-Sébastien Bach Daily work offered as praise: turning one's craft, done well, into glory given to God.
- José Gabriel Brochero Prayer that takes to the road toward the most distant, and shares their life.
- Krishna Pal Conversion paid for at the cost of family and community, the courage to be first when no one else would follow, hymns written in a mother tongue to carry a faith still foreign to everyone around him.
- Madeleine Delbrêl “You prepare a table before me… and my cup overflows.” Madeleine Delbrêl sought that overflow not in the desert, but in the middle of the city, among neighbors and ordinary tasks. Gratitude, for her, is recognizing that the table is already set, that everyday life itself is the place of grace.
- Madeleine-Sophie Barat The education of the heart, patient and humble, in the service of one as of all.
- Mahalia Jackson Sung prayer: to lift up hope when the voice carries what words cannot say.
- Marguerite Ebner Silence as a place where prayer can live.
- Mariam Baouardy Letting the Spirit lift you like a little nothing: the simplicity that asks for light before acting.
- Marianne Cope The joy of choosing what everyone else refuses, and bringing beauty into it.
- Marie-Dominique Mazzarello The work of one's hands turned into prayer, simple gladness as a path to God.
- Marie-Madeleine de Pazzi Thirst for the Love that is neither loved nor known, the fire of the Spirit that purifies.
- Mary Slessor Prayer as a climate: a whole life breathed in answered prayer, unhurried, one day at a time.
- Miguel Pro Joy that refuses to be confiscated, and forgiveness given at the very moment everything is taken away.
- Nahman de Bratslav The free, spoken conversation with God, and joy chosen against the sadness that stifles.
- Nectaire d'Égine Gentleness in the face of injustice; prayer held as a conversation that is never broken off.
- Olivier Messiaen Seeking God in what already sings; making the ear an organ of prayer.
- Paul Le Bao Tinh Joy that holds firm at the bottom of the trial, because one is not alone there.
- Philip Doddridge The inner life understood as something kept up or lost, and clear sight about what eats away a day.
- Philippe Néri Joy as a way to God: a holiness without pose, refusing to take itself seriously so as to take God seriously.
- Philon d'Alexandrie Praying at set hours, and letting the whole day order itself around them.
- Pier Giorgio Frassati Faith as an upward drive: friendship, mountains and charity pursued with the same ardor.
- Porphyrios de Kavsokalyvia The way of love rather than of anxious effort, and God sought as one loves.
- Rafaravavy Rasalama The singing that holds a person upright when nothing is left but the voice.
- Romanos le Mélode The Gospel sung as living drama of the human heart, and prayer carried by beauty.
- Sandra Sabattini The holiness of ordinary youth, and prayer become simple conversation with God.
- Séraphin de Sarov Paschal joy as the climate of an entire life, the fruit of long hidden prayer.
- Thea Bowman To bring to God all that one is, holding back nothing of one's history.
- Thérèse de Lisieux Love as vocation. Sanctity at the height of a child.
- Thérèse des Andes Joy as witness: a God real enough to make one happy, even behind a grille.
- Thomas Traherne Wonder recovered after childhood, as a form of thanksgiving.
- William Tyndale Receiving the words of prayer in one's own language, and discovering that God needs no interpreter.
- Yared l'Éthiopien Raising praise through song, praying with the voice of a people.