First day
«God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.»
Comment from our readers…
God tells us that the present moment is the most important. In the "Our Father", He teaches us to ask for our daily bread, and not our bread for once and for all. Jesus also teaches us sufficient for the day is its own trouble. In this manner, God wishes to remind us that everything comes from Him. By entrusting ourselves to Him every day, we restore our proper relationship between Him and us. It is in the nature of things and in the nature of the love of God.
-Judith
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2nd day
«With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, God makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew.»
Comment from our readers…
God is Great - He will never ask us something that we cannot accomplish with His grace. How many times did I let myself be discouraged, until I realized that I had just received through His providence the grace necessary to accomplish what I had to do. And how many times did He give me joy! Thank you Lord!
-Éric
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3rd day
«Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!»
Comment from our readers…
God is strength, life, light. He triumphs over all evil, but we are weak and our faith is too small to accept it. Our fragile faith is easily shaken. Jesus, pour over me the light of Your resurection, and give me the strength to trust You always forever.
-Éric
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4th day
«The Lord, your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives you the victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing, as on a day of festival (Za, 3, 17)»
Comment from our readers…
What is inside of me that reflects around me? What a question!.. I realize that my heart is full of Jesus, Son of God, who opened for me the fullness of His divinity. Alleluia! This ascertainment enables me to live joyfully and savour the love of my Saviour.
-Lise
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5th day
«This is the joy which we experience daily, amid the little things of life, as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: "My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment"» (Sir 14:11, 14).
Comment from our readers…
I am sensitive to the simple things that come my way during the day. God is present in them and I enjoy more and more welcoming these simple moments. God wants the best for me and I trust Him. Every morning, I remind myself that life is not a problem to solve but rather a mystery that unfolds. I am convinced that every day brings joy... and joy is precious.
-Roger
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6th day
«The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. A few examples will suffice. “Rejoice!” is the angel’s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28).»
Comment from our readers…
Yes! Glorious is the Cross of Christ! And why not adorn it with gold, precious stones and jewels? From now on, let us look at Jesus on the cross, decorated with glorious ornaments that invite us "emphatically" to rejoice. Rejoice when we see our Savior so nicely decorated, covered in glory in our own homes. It must be good for Him to see us adore him in such a way, just like Mary Magdalene with her perfume. Occasionnally I like to look at my crucifix resting on a cushion; it has been hanging on a wall for so long! Yes! Let us rejuvenate our devotions, let us be creative, like our Father in Heaven, and joy will be in our hearts.
-Carole
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7th day
«Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s womb (Lk 1:41)»
Comment from our readers…
This visit speaks of the importance of going out to others. Mary reached out to her cousin Elizabeth and this movement brings joy even to the infant yet to be born. What impresses me in this visit is the impact of Mary's assistance which, is source of joy. It seems difficult to me to bring joy by my own, but at any moment, we can "step out" of ourselves to go to others. This is how we will find joy for ourselves.
-Pierrette
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8th day
«Jesus himself "rejoiced in the Holy Spirit" (Lk 10:21)»
Comment from our readers…
Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit can also happen to us. This joy is not like the one we feel after success, good news or a gratifying encounter. This joy is of a different kind. It comes unexpectedly, but can be recognized by it's texture and imprint, the mark it leaves in us. More than a memory, it is a treasure, a fountain where I can draw. Reconnecting with this joy is reconnecting with the Holy Spirit.
-Marie-Reine
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9th day
«His message brings us joy: "I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (Jn 15:11).»
Comment from our readers…
In the concentration camp where Father Kolbe was held, a meager bowl of soup was their only material support for survival. One day, a young man shamelessly addresses Father Kolbe: Give me your soup, you are too old anyways. Rather than balk before this malice, Father Kolbe gave him his bowl of soup with a smile. Isn't this a beautiful example of Franciscan joy?
-Denis
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10th day
«Our Christian joy drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart.»
Comment from ours readers…
An image comes into my mind when I think of the fountain pouring out of the Heart of Jesus. At the end of the movie Ben-Hur, Jesus dies on the cross. The storm breaks, and the blood of Christ mixes with the water flowing in the streets of the city, bringing blessings along the way, healing the lepers…
This fountain of abondant graces is an inexhaustible flow from which we can draw true joy.
-Marise
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11th day
«Jesus promises his disciples: "You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy" (Jn 16:20).»
Comment from our readers…
The cause of our sorrows is very often quite small in comparison to what will cause our joy. We must live our sadness knowing that it is only transient. God calls us to a joy that is much greater, and to rejoice even in the difficult times, remembering that He is with us in all our hardships.
-Vincent
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12th day
«Jesus insists: "But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you" (Jn 16:22)»
Comment from our readers…
This joy that comes from inside us, which comes from the Holy Spirit, the joy of knowing that God loves us, that an eternal joy awaits us, that the saints and the angels are there to help us, this joy; no one can take it away from us.
-Marise
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13th day
«The disciples rejoiced (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen Christ.»
Comment from our readers…
The disciples did not follow Him in vain. Yes, He really is resurrected, yes, Jesus truly accomplishes His promises. Without a doubt, Heaven, as promised by Him is real, and He has left to prepare a place for us.
-Martin
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14th day
«In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the first Christians “ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (2:46). Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy?»
Comment from our readers…
At dinner with friends or family, I try as best as I can to set aside everything that could distract me from His presence… from their presence. In my opinion, it is the perfect moment to offer them my presence and to appreciate each and everyone’s unique qualities. Sometimes, when I manage to leave behind my own worries and interests, I am able to focus and give myself to others and suddenly I experience a simple and delectable joy. It’s as if, slowly, through the presence and words of others, I am able to experience God’s unconditional love for each and every one of us.
- Suzanne
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15th day
«I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty.»
Comment from our readers…
I am 40 years old, and in reflecting upon my personal journey that brings me closer to God, I can say that the way in which I experience joy has evolved. When I was younger, I would cherish the joy inside of me, as if it were exclusively mine; this joy was authentic but somewhat self-centered. God progressively teaches me how to redirect this joy back to Him, in a motion of gratitude and to direct it towards my neighbours so that they may also benefit from and be encouraged by it.
- Marc
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16th day
«Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.»
Comment from our readers…
I will never forget the day that, as a nurse, I gave a Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception to one of my cancer patients just a few hours before his death. His son arrived to his bedside approximately 30 minutes after his death. When I told him that I had given his father a Miraculous Medal, he opened his hand to reveal a medal of Saint Joseph he had planned to give to his dying father. What a grace!
-Réjeanne
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17th day
«I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress: My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is…»
Comment from our readers…
Overcoming extreme sadness often seems well beyond our means. I was once in such a situation, unable to deal with the sadness accompanying the death of both my parents, when I was just 5 years old. A child is helpless when faced with the great tribulations of life. Everyday, from childhood to adolescence, I experienced the pain of being without family, committed to life with strangers. It was an ever present, indescribable sadness, even when I would put up a smiling face. Then, on one Easter vigil, the night when we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, this sadness disappeared and was replaced by a new joy. In the days that followed, I noticed, to my amazement, that my tragic past no longer resurfaced as endlessly as before. "We all have to let the joy of faith slowly awake". Pope Francis invites us to keep the door of faith open, even during our most difficult times, until these moments of Resurrection arrive, when Life triumphs.
-Marie-Monique
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18th day
«But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness…»
Comment from our readers…
What a consolation! This phrase gives me so much hope. I am always surprised to discover what God has in store for me. I feel as though he knows me very intimately, "more intimate to me than I am to myself", as saint Augustine would say. Patienly, He "restores" me, He renews me.
I particularily like to pray bathed by the silence of the morning, when the day is "new". I feel I can then gather the grace specific to that day, like the manna in the desert.
-Sylvie
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20th day
«Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met. To some extent this is because our "technological society" has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy.»
Comments from our readers...
I recently experienced a moment of great joy. I read a few excerpts from Edith Stein’s works before going to bed one night, among which was The Science of the Cross; I was greatly moved by my readings. Upon leaving my room the following morning, there was a small gift bag at my doorstep and in it was a magnificent little cross! A friend of mine had dropped off the small gift bag. She knows that I am very fond of crosses! I saw it as a sign of the Holy Sprit for He knows how to organize events at the right moment to comfort and strengthen us. This event made me reflect; the cross can bring us great joy...
-Valérie
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