Venerable Bruno Lanteri (1759–1830) lived in challenging times, yet he continually encouraged souls to draw near to God with confidence and trust. With a heart rooted in faith and a deep love for Christ, Ven. Lanteri taught that true joy is not found in passing comforts, but in the abiding presence of God. Through his spiritual direction and writings, he invited others to live with a holy joy—one that strengthens the soul, deepens charity, and leads us more fully into God’s will. His counsels of joy continue to guide us today, reminding us that even in difficulty, we are called to “serve God with a holy joy.”
Download a brochure of selected counsels of joy from Ven. Lanteri’s writings or read them on the page below.
“Our hearts are unable to know, outside of God, any true good or sincere happiness.”
“Let your heart be joyful, give yourself as completely as you can to God, banish any doubts, and tell God that you never wish consciously to do anything that would displease him. For the rest, do not be troubled. God is with you and will help you and will not let you fall.”
“The human heart finds itself in great distress without a close union with God, because only the fullness of being, of intelligence and of love, the infinite Unity and ineffably Trinity of God, can fill and satisfy its immense capacity.”
“If the soul, yielding to the loving invitation of the Lord, consecrates itself totally to him, it will find in God the means of self-perfection and true happiness.”
“Unlike worldly joy, spiritual joy is true joy; it is not based on anything false or illusory. It is to be preferred to all else, because it is good, holy, and superior to anything temporal.”
“Spiritual joy is angelic, because the angels themselves experience it. It is real, and it strengthens.”
“Spiritual joy is experienced when one ponders the spiritual goods it possesses. What are these goods?
- Participation in the divine nature (as children of God), union with Jesus Christ,
- Being in the bosom of the Church as her children, God’s special protection,
- The gifts of the theological virtues, the Sacraments, the communion of saints, grace, friendship with God…
This is the joy that we must seek.”
“With spiritual joy, one gives greater honor and glory to God, manifesting by his deeds that he thinks well of God and is content in his service and with his treatment.”
“If we want to give God all the glory that is his due, we should want to make others think highly of our God and Father. So, we should serve him with joy and delight…”
“With joyfulness, one drives out the sloth which impedes the practice of virtue.”
“If one meditates with joy, if one approaches the sacraments joyfully, if one converses with his neighbor with joy, how many sins against God and neighbor will be avoided!”
“Means for Acquiring Joyfulness
Ask the Lord for joyfulness. Joy or cheerfulness is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22).”
Think frequently of the Lord and thank Him for the goods that we possess and hope to possess.”
Perform good deeds with holy readiness and simplicity. Do things with good intention. Do them immediately, without reasoning too much…”
“Keep far from you the spirit of sadness and melancholy. Show yourself joyful even when you do not feel so because of physical problems. At such times more than ever, guard yourself against closing in on yourself and turn your thoughts to Paradise, because it is yours.”
“If I shall fall, even were it a thousand times, I will not lose courage. I will not be troubled, but say immediately and with peace, ‘Nunc coepi. Now I begin.’”
“Nobis datus, nobis natus – For us he has been given, for us he is born! Who would ever doubt this after so many testimonies? Jesus Christ is all for us. His Father gave him to us. He gave himself to us. There is no other acquisition better than this gift. Yes, he is mine and belongs to me. Oh Love! Oh Goodness! What is necessary on my part to obtain this gift, greater than any gift, that contains in itself every other gift? Three things are necessary: Faith, Confidence, and Offering.”
“The joyful one is more easily able to resist temptations, while remaining more tranquil, and he is more far sighted.”
“The joyful man… is resolute, generous, energetic, and so he easily overcomes difficulty with perseverance.”
“With joyfulness, one easily acquires holiness and perfects oneself through virtuous actions.”
“God loves a joyful giver (2 Cor 9:7). Joyful giving is done not as a burden, but by good grace, with love.”