Luceat!

Several years ago, on a retreat in Assisi, I heard a story about St. Francis of Assisi (whose feast it is today) that has inspired me ever since. As the story goes, St. Francis was walking on the road to another monastery with Brother Leo. It was winter and bitterly cold. St. Francis began describing the many material, social, and spiritual gifts that are often envied in this world. Then, he told Brother Leo, “Perfect joy is not in that.” He continued along this strain, listing the seeming joys of the world and then repeating that perfect joy could not be found in those things. Frustrated, Brother Leo asked, “Father, I beg you in God’s name to tell me where perfect joy is.” St. Francis responded with yet another list, but this time he numbered all the pains and difficulties and rejections that they could meet along their journey. He instructed Brother Leo saying, “If we endure all those evils and insults and blows with joy and patience, reflecting that we must accept and bear the sufferings of the Blessed Christ patiently for love of Him, oh, Brother Leo, write: that is perfect joy!”

This is only a summary of the story, but it is clear that only in uniting our sufferings and daily obstacles with Christ, persevering with patience and peace, and doing it all for love of Him who first loved us can we ever find “perfect joy.” My friends and I began a habit of brightly exclaiming, “Perfect joy!” whenever we were tempted to complain about bad weather, a long test, a bad day, etc. It was a positive reminder of the attitude we should have towards the difficulties in our lives. May you all have a wonderful day, and may you find “perfect joy” in every moment.

[For the full story of St. Francis’ “perfect joy” click here]