52
Nobody is happy on earth until he decides not to be. This is the way the path goes: suffering â in Christian terms! â the Cross; Godâs Will, Love; happiness here and, afterwards, eternally.
53
Servite Domino in laetitia! â I will serve God cheerfully. With a cheerfulness that is a consequence of my Faith, of my Hope and of my Love â and that will last for ever. For, as the Apostle assures us, Dominus prope est!... â the Lord follows me closely. I shall walk with Him, therefore, quite confidently, for the Lord is my Father, and with his help I shall fulfil his most lovable Will, even if I find it hard.
54
A piece of advice I have insisted on repeatedly: be cheerful, always cheerful. âSadness is for those who do not consider themselves to be children of God.
55
I am trying to spare myself nothing, to help my younger brothers âtread softlyâ as you asked us. There are so many joys to be found in âhaving it toughâ.
56
Another man of faith wrote to me: âWhen you have to be on your own, you can notice clearly the help of your brothers. Now, when it comes to my mind that I have to put up with everything âall aloneâ, I often think that, if it werenât for that âcompany we keep from afarâ â the holy Communion of Saints! â I would not be able to preserve this optimism which fills my heart.â
57
Donât forget that sometimes one needs to have smiling faces around.
58
âYou are all so cheerful, and one doesnât expect that,â I heard someone say.
It has been happening for a long time; insistently and with diabolical determination, Christâs enemies never tire of complaining that the people who give themselves to God are all sullen. And, unfortunately, some of those who wish to be âgoodâ have lent support to those words, with their âsad virtuesâ.
âWe give you thanks, Lord, because you have chosen to count on our cheerful, very happy lives to erase that false caricature.
âI also ask You that we may not forget it.