The virtue of the month for Challenge and Conquest in November is joy. This is very appropriate for Thanksgiving because as Pope Francis says, ” Joy springs from a grateful heart.”
Joy is deep. It is not being goofy or feeling nice. It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. Joy is deep. Joy brings peace in your heart and it is lasting. It comes from doing good and loving God. Joy comes when we know that whatever happens we are held in the arms of the Father.
A Christian’s joy is a shared joy. When you do something fun with your friends it is great to talk about it afterwards and almost seems better just because other people were there. A shared joy is a deeper joy. It’s like going to a concert with friends. It is not the same as you sitting in your room listening to the music all by yourself. As Christians we share the same faith and hope that God loves us and we will be with him one day. It is a joy we share with millions around the world.
Mary is a wonderful example of a joyful and grateful heart. The prayer of the Magnificat can be found in Luke 1:46 when Mary arrives to see her cousin Elizabeth. She says, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”