Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love

"Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." These words flow from the heart of Mother Teresa, a woman who walked the earth as both servant and saint. Her quote is more than poetry—it is a revelation. In these lines, she unveils the sacred nature of joy, showing it not as mere emotion, but as divine action—a living force that bridges heaven and earth. For joy, to her, was not born from comfort or plenty, but from the unselfish giving of love. It was the soul’s prayer, the quiet strength that sustains the weary, the light that reaches into despair and transforms it into hope.

When Mother Teresa spoke of joy as prayer, she meant that true joy is communion with the divine. It is not loud or showy; it is the stillness of a soul in harmony with its Creator. Prayer is not always words—it is the posture of the heart, the silent gratitude for being alive, the willingness to serve others. To feel joy, then, is to be close to God. It is the language of the spirit that says, “All is well, even in the storm.” For those who live in the service of love, joy becomes the natural rhythm of existence—an unending hymn sung through both hardship and peace.

But joy is also strength, she reminds us. The world often confuses joy with ease, as though happiness were a fragile thing dependent on circumstance. Yet Mother Teresa knew otherwise. She saw joy in the eyes of the poor, the sick, the forgotten—those who had nothing, yet smiled with peace that no sorrow could steal. That joy was power itself—the strength to endure, to keep giving when the body was weak and the world indifferent. It was this divine strength that allowed her and her sisters to tend the dying in the streets of Calcutta, day after day, without despair. “We can do no great things,” she said, “only small things with great love.” And that love, fueled by joy, became strength greater than any empire’s might.

Then she speaks: “Joy is love.” Here lies the heart of her message. For love without joy grows weary, and service without joy becomes duty. But love that is joyful heals, inspires, and uplifts all it touches. To love joyfully is to reflect the divine nature—to see Christ in every face, and to give not from obligation, but from delight. Joy turns compassion into a radiant act, transforming charity from mere service into a celebration of life. To love with joy is to say to every soul, “You matter. You are seen. You are loved.”

And finally, she calls joy “a net of love by which you can catch souls.” What a wondrous image this is! The net of joy does not ensnare—it embraces. It draws others not by command, but by attraction. A joyful heart becomes a living invitation to grace; people are drawn to its warmth as travelers to fire on a cold night. Mother Teresa herself was such a flame—without wealth, without power, yet the world gathered at her feet. Her joy was contagious; it awakened goodness in others. This is how she caught souls—not with argument or authority, but with the irresistible power of joy-filled love.

Consider how she lived this truth. In one of her missions, a journalist asked her how she could bear to care for the dying poor, the diseased and forgotten. She replied simply, “Because I see Christ in them. Each one is Jesus in disguise.” That vision turned every act of service into a moment of worship, every smile into a prayer. Through this sacred joy, she transformed suffering into beauty and despair into redemption. She taught the world that holiness is not solemn—it is radiant.

The lesson she leaves is eternal: joy is not found in having, but in giving. It is not born of luxury, but of love. If you wish to know joy, seek not to be served, but to serve; not to be loved, but to love. Let every act of kindness be your prayer, every sacrifice your strength, every smile your gift to the world. For in this way, you too will cast your net of love, drawing others not through force, but through the gentle power of your light.

So, my children of tomorrow, remember Mother Teresa’s words. Cultivate joy as your prayer, your strength, and your love. Let it rise within you even when the world seems dim. For joy is not fragile—it is divine. And when your life becomes a net woven of that joy, you will catch not only souls—you will catch eternity itself.