(The Open Road, No.3, May 1969, p.3)
St. Francis called his friars ‘troubadours of the Lord.’ They were to go from place to place singing joyfully of the goodness of God. Francis once told a gloomy friar to confess his sins if he were guilty of sin and, if not, to cheer up and show a smile.
Happiness has a peculiar strength about it. It implies a conviction stronger than logic, a wholeness more complete than righteousness, a freedom greater than any “independence,” a simplicity purer than mere consistency.
Our world today has need of joy. It is saturated with cynicism, pessimism, and a lust for self-destruction. It looks for happiness in the synthetic gaiety of toothpaste smiles and holiday-brochure vivacity. It doesn’t find it because something is missing. What is it?
Happiness has been described as ‘joy in the truth.’ We Franciscans are in a unique position to experience this joy. As Catholics and as followers of one of the most joyful men who ever lived, we have an example which is an invitation and a challenge. If we respond to it we will do a service to God and man. We will profess our trust in God and help restore hope to a world which needs it.