"My soul magnifies the Lord,Mary, Mother of God · Luke 1:46-48 (The Magnificat)
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant."
Let the brothers be careful not to appear outwardlyFrancis of Assisi · The Earlier Rule, Chapter VII
as sad and gloomy hypocrites
but show themselves joyful, cheerful,
and consistently gracious in the Lord.
Rejoice in the Lord always;Philippians 4:4
again I will say, rejoice.
Where there is charity and wisdom,Francis of Assisi · Admonitions, XXVII
there is neither fear nor ignorance.
Where there is patience and humility,
there is neither anger nor disturbance.
Where there is poverty with joy,
there is neither greed nor avarice.
"Poverty with joy"—this is Francis's unique pairing. The less you cling to, the more you can receive. The less you own, the more you can praise.
What would you need to release
to make more room for joy?
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,Francis of Assisi · The Canticle of the Creatures
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Francis composed this while nearly blind and seriously ill. His joy was not despite his suffering—it flowed through it.
Thérèse of Lisieux found joy not in great deeds, but in small ones done with love:
Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice,Thérèse of Lisieux · Story of a Soul
here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word;
always doing the smallest things right,
and doing them all for love.
These things I have spoken to you,John 15:11
that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be full.
Joy that depends on circumstances is fragile.
Joy rooted in God alone is unshakable.
A Prayer for Joy
Lord, You command us to rejoice—
not because our circumstances are easy,
but because You never change.
Give me poverty with joy—
the freedom of holding nothing too tightly
so my hands are open to receive You.
Let me miss no single opportunity
of making some small sacrifice with love,
here by a smiling look,
there by a kindly word.
Through the intercession of Francis,
who praised You while suffering,
and Thérèse, who found joy in small things—
let Your joy be in me,
and my joy be full.
Amen.
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