"SET FREE"

THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. (1)

"THE GREAT DANGER"

The great danger in today's world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God's voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of His love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. (2)

CONSTANT INVITATION

The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ's cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. (5)

GOODNESS GROWS

Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. (9)

"DELIGHTFUL AND COMFORTING"

Let us recover and deepen our enthusiasm, that "delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing ... May the world of our time, which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news not from evangelizers who are dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious, but from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervor, who have first received the joy of Christ". (Pope Paul VI. Evangelii Nuntiandi). (10)

"GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE"

The joy of evangelizing always arises from grateful remembrance. It is a grace which we constantly need to implore. (13)

"MISSIONARY JOY"

The Gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy. (21)

CAN'T BE TAKEN AWAY

The joy of the Gospel is such that it cannot be taken away from us by anyone or anything (cf. Jn 16:22). The evils of our world and those of the Churchmust not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervor. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow. (84)

(Source: Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. issued 11/24/2013)