Madrid, Spain, Mar 13, 2025 /
14:20 pm
In his latest pastoral letter, the prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, reflected on how Christians should live joyfully in the context of “difficult times.”
“Joy, in general, is the effect of the possession and experience of something good. Depending on the type of goodness, joy has a greater or lesser intensity and permanence. When joy is not the consequence of some particular experience of a good, but the consequence of one’s whole existence, it is usually called happiness,” explained the successor of St. Josemaría Escrivá.
The prelate, who noted that “these are difficult times in the world and in the Church (and the [apostolate] is a small part of the Church),” also reminded that “always and in every circumstance, we can and should be happy.”
In this regard, he recalled how St. Josemaría was happy during his final years, despite the difficulties: “All of us who saw and heard our [spiritual] father in Villa Tevere during the last seven or eight years of his life saw that he was truly content and happy, even though he suffered greatly during these years, both physically and, above all, because of the serious difficulties in the life of the Church.”
Ocáriz also addressed the question of Christian joy in relation to the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.
Regarding faith, he noted: “Our natural joy, elevated by grace, is found especially in union with God’s plans” and is related to being aware of God’s paternal love and so “it is good to renew the conviction of our faith in God’s love.”
The prelate pointed out that “faith in God’s love for us brings with it great hope” that “has as its specific object a future and possible good,” which fundamentally consists of “full happiness and joy in definitive union with God in glory.”
In the realm of charity, Ocáriz said that “love for God and for others is linked, along with joy, to faith and to hope.” Thus, the shared essence of the different expressions of love is “desiring — and to the extent possible, seeking — the good of the person who is loved, along with the consequent joy that comes from knowing that this good is finally present.”
Thus, the prelate continued, “love, as a source of joy, is manifested in a special way in giving ourselves to others,” and when it consists of taking up the cross for love of God, “is a source of happiness,” and this joy “has its roots in the shape of the cross.”
Invoking Mary as “the cause of our joy,” the prelate concluded with an invitation to “always be happy and to be sowers of peace and joy in all the circumstances of our lives. We ask her for this in a special way now in this Jubilee Year of Hope, closely united to the suffering of Pope Francis.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Nicolás de Cárdenas has been the correspondent for ACI Prensa in Spain since July 2022. In his journalism career he has specialized in socio-religious topics, and he has also worked for local and international civil associations.
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