Experiencing ecstasy of joy is an extraordinary blessing. This is when Christians realize they have ascended to the mountaintop of life. Filled with happiness such persons are on top of the world looking down at valleys below. Light engulfs them and they are enlightened by this glorious overview. Some saints who attained such a state, were known for their humility. Although sometimes, they have experienced great despair. These are holy, heavenly, endowed lights, who are honored by their heavenly wonder-worker, Christ. Their souls were mysteriously guided to this divine point. Having everlasting souls were assured them and they would experience exalted states for eternity. This is the secret of discovering happy lives which are important lessons Christians are taught.

De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum, Antitheta no. 9 (1623) translated by Gilbert Watts 1640, stated, “The voice of the people hath some divineness in it, else how should so many men agree to be of one mind?” Such mindsets Christians gain in exalted states. There are hills and valleys, but rest assured, there’s ecstatic joy – the highest form of delight.

Joy of Freshness

There are persons who will do anything to receive this kind of joy. At best, it’s sacrificial, as demonstrated by our greatest teacher, Jesus Christ. Some saints have suffered martyrdom and greatly honored in their lives. They are assured of receiving heavenly crowns of everlasting life. They embraced life’s hardships in precious ways. Through their actions, souls were healed, and brought to light. Apparent was the beauty of love in their living sacrifices. Throughout the ages, such love formed a bridge to all mankind. That’s why in churches, we hear priests preach on the great deeds of the saints. Living compassionately we’re called to embrace hardships, by following the Lord’s way on the cross.

Our lives in the footsteps of Jesus are delightful testimonies that we can do. It’s best for us to be like his disciples, by the way we live in the world. It must be remembered our goals must be to transform lives. For there’s supreme joy in heaven when one lost soul is won for the Lord, and is set on the right path of life. This is having dignity in a Christian lifestyle.

A credo engraved in Rockefeller Center Plaza, New York, showed, “The rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind, and … only the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.” What an inspiration for yearning souls waiting to be set free to be all they can be!

Mother of Joy

Ecstasy is the Mother of Joy. It brings true gladness to hearts, minds, and souls, radiating and touching others seeking divine goodness. In these paths, there are abiding truths which endowed our spirits in living to the fullest. At best, it’s the epitome of goodness found in loving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His teachings compel us to embrace his everlasting way.

In a 1609 Sonnet 33, William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616), England’s greatest playwright, poet and actor wrote:

Full many a glorious morning have I seen

Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye,

Kissing with golden face the meadows green.

With these beautiful lines, Shakespeare captured the absolute mountain-top experiences of nature. They are superb, full of light, and refreshing to souls. This Sonnet captures the sparks of Christian missions taking care of the wonderful blessings in our earthly paradise. Great love expresses itself for the protection of the environment that God has so graciously created. Its power is a genuine for the caretakers of nature’s bounty. Happiness is shown in deepest possible ways, by the way we live and relate to nature.

Encouragement is found in the Word written in the Holy Bible. Within its pages, we’re able to taste excellent possibilities which are ours to have. We can therefore look forward to the greatest of all blessings – everlasting life and living fully in the splendor, of all eternity.