1 Thessalonians 1:6: "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the holy Spirit…"

Pope Francis has said: “This joy, this which fills us, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit one cannot have this joy. To be full of joy, is the experience of the highest consolation, when the Lord makes us understand that this is something different from being cheerful, positive, bright...Receiving the joy of the Spirit is a grace."

When St Paul speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, he begins with love, followed by joy. When we are in love with God, when we live out that love by loving others, then the grace of joy will well up in our hearts. It is the joy of the Lord flowing from authentic love. Love as Jesus commands and experience the joy God desires for us.