Joy

"Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the occasions of pleasure, but finds great difficulty in giving birth to happiness.  For happiness has its origin elsewhere:  it is a spiritual thing.  Money, comfort, hygiene, material security etc, may often not be lacking, but nevertheless, despite these advantages, boredom, suffering and sadness are frequently to be found supervening in the lives of many people."  (Pope Paul VI)

"God asks us to lose our fear of pain and tribulation and unite ourselves to him, as He waits for us on the Cross.  Our soul will then be more purified, our love stronger.  And we will realize that joy is inseparable from the Cross.  Not only that, but we will also understand that we can never be happy if we are not united to Christ on the Cross, and that we will never know how to love if we do not at the same time love sacrifice...If we humbly have recourse to God, He will make us see that everything, even events and circumstances apparently least likely to do so, work together for the good of those who love him.  Suffering, when seen in its true light, when it serves as a means of loving more, produces great peace and deep joy.  That is why God often blesses us with the Cross.

"That is how we must travel along the way of self-giving:  the Cross on our shoulders, a smile on our lips and light in our hearts."  --from In Conversation with God, Vol. 2, pp. 159-160.