Laugh and Grow Strong

I have collected a few quotes from the Saints, Scripture and fellow Christians  to remind serious-minded Catholics to laugh. Somehow the average Catholic does not associate joy with holiness but believes holiness is synonymous with misery and suffering. However, suffering is not miserable when we are suffused with the love of God and filled with His Spirit. In this post, I will simply overwhelm you with quotes all affirming the fact that joy is at the core of our spirits when we live in, with, and through Christ.

"The joy of the Lord IS our strength" Neh:8:10. Even before Christ freed God's people from sin and death and filled us with the Holy Spirit,  the Old Testament proclaimed the reality of joy of the Lord.

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 St. Ignatius of Loyola understood the power of God's joy when he  invited  believers to, "Laugh and grow strong."

St. Teresa of Avila prayed, tongue in cheek,“From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord deliver  us." Apparently this saint had a delightful sense of humour; when a donkey through her into a stream of cold water with her heavy, sodden habit she yelled at God, "If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few."

St. John Vianney was not exaggerating when he said if we really understood what was happening at Mass, we would die of joy.

C.S. Lewis had an amusing way of describing Christian joy as the serious business of heaven.