Cheerfulness

True virtue is not sad or disagreeable, but pleasantly cheerful.

If things go well, let us rejoice, blessing God who makes them prosper. And if they go badly? Let us rejoice, blessing God who allows us to share in the sweetness of his Cross.

The cheerfulness you should have is not the kind we might call physiological good spirits — the happiness of a healthy animal. You must seek something more: the supernatural happiness that comes from the abandonment of everything and the abandonment of yourself into the loving arms of our Father-God.

Never lose heart if you are an apostle. There is no obstacle that you cannot overcome.

Why are you sad?

Long face, rough manner, ridiculous appearance, unfriendly attitude. Is that how you hope to inspire others to follow Christ?

You are unhappy? — Think: there must be an obstacle between God and me. You will seldom be wrong.

You ask me to suggest a cure for your sadness. I'll give you a prescription from an expert adviser, the Apostle Saint James:

Tristatur aliquis vestrum, are you sad, my son? Oret! Pray! Try it and you will see.

Don't be gloomy. Let your outlook be more 'ours', — more christian.

I want you to be happy always, for cheerfulness is an essential part of your way.

Pray that the same supernatural joy may be granted to us all.

'Laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum. Let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice'.

There you have light, to help you discover the reasons for your gloominess.