Joy in the Life of a Follower of St. Benedict: An Exploration of Joy in Lent and the Whole of Christian Life

Our world and our Church are in dire need of joy - genuine Christian joy. Besieged with a persistent pandemic, cruel warfare, frequent violent crimes, and all sorts of discouraging reports in the media, people - and even we Christians - may be tempted to throw our hands up in despair, cynicism, and grumbling. It is hard to be joyful amid so many oppressive situations.

And yet amid all this, real Christian joy is possible. This good news is proclaimed by the Gospels, all the Scriptures, and the Rule of St. Benedict. In particular, the Rule asserts that a monk should offer his sacrifices during Lent with joy. It also prescribes that a monk's life should be "a continuous Lent." Therefore, a monk - or any Christian - can and should live in joy at all times. This joy is not a superficial happiness or a succession of pleasant thoughts. It does not depend on circumstances. Rather, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a virtue, a gift that is ever available and that one can learn to receive with gratitude. It is rooted in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ and His unconditional love.

It is hoped that this book will, by God's grace, help to open some people's hearts and minds to the joy that is available to them. Then perhaps this joy may begin to pervade the attitudes of more and more people; begin to flow out into love, peace, patience and the other fruits of the Holy Spirit; and begin to overcome the domain of misery and gloom in our needy world.

Father Donald S. Raila, O.S.B., is a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He has been the Director of Oblates since 1988. Fr. Donald's other books include Lessons from Saint Benedict and The Rule in Bits and Pieces.