11 No doubt, we already have some appreciation for the goodness of God and what he has revealed to us, and therefore experience at times great joy in our faith. But pondering the truth of God’s goodness so as to better understand it is never time misspent. Perhaps, after all, there are moments when we become discouraged by the burdens and experiences of life or the apparent lack of answer to prayer. Maybe there are times we are tempted to wonder if God’s love is real, if it is truly working or effective in our own life, especially in themidst of suffering. The meditations selected for this volume seek to illuminate, in seven different aspects, why there is always cause for joy in the Christian life, even in the midst of great trials. The texts have been drawn from the rich and diverse wisdom the Catholic tradition offers us. There are early Christian saints and Church Fathers, medieval mystics and theologians, contemporary spiritual writers and founders of religious institutes, and holy men and women who sought to share their holy joy with others in the world. Our Lord, we must always remember, does not make promises he fails to keep. Nor does he give us instructions that are impossible to fulfill. Thus, if his great and solemn intention is for us to experience complete joy—his
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