A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri – Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 3 – Turning toward Spiritual Joy “Spiritual joy is experienced when one ponders the spiritual goods it possesses. What are these goods? Participation in the divine nature (as children of God), union with Jesus Christ, being in the bosom of the Church as her children, God's special protection, the gifts of the theological virtues, the Sacraments, the communion of saints, grace, friendship with God, the merits of our actions, the glory of heaven that is already almost ours by the firm hope we have (as a son already almost possesses the inheritance that awaits him from his father). This is the joy that we must seek. Few possess it, because they fail to call these goods to mind and fail to understand how valuable they are. They are like people who never stop to look at a beautiful painting, or to listen to beautiful music, and really enjoy them. They are like children who possess precious things but do not realize how valuable they are. Such people fail to ponder and take delight in the state of grace. Unlike worldly joy, spiritual joy is true joy; it is not based on anything false or illusory. It is to be preferred to all else, because it is good, holy, and superior to anything temporal. Spiritual joy is angelic, because the angels themselves experience it. It is real, and it strengthens.” The post A Novena in Honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri – Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.