Symphony of Joy: Advent’s Holy Fire

Inspired by Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen and the reflections of 1977

Advent is the season of waiting, but in its third week the Church bids us to rejoice. The rose candle is lit, the angel’s cry resounds: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy.” Joy is not a fleeting sentiment — it is the holy fire that warms our purpose and illumines our path.

Joy in Turbulent Times

In 1977, Fulton J. Sheen was writing in a world marked by both turbulence and hope. The Cold War still cast its shadow, economic uncertainty pressed upon families, and cultural upheaval left many searching for meaning. Yet amid this, there was joy — joy born not of circumstance but of surrender.

The Church was celebrating the 10th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, reminding believers that life itself is gift. The charismatic renewal was stirring hearts with song and prayer. And Bishop Sheen, nearing the end of his earthly pilgrimage, was still proclaiming that true joy is not found in clinging but in giving.

It was in this context that he penned:

“The joy born of God enables us to see the world from an entirely different point of view. … we find our greatest joys not in the things we cling to, but in what we surrender; not in the asking for anything, but the giving of something. We find joy not in what others can do for us, but in what we can do for others. Joy comes from using well the talents the Lord gave us, from a sense of bliss at being redeemed by our Lord, and being permitted to minister more entirely to His glory. ‘Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow,’ said Helen Keller.” ~ Fulton J. Sheen, 1977

Joy as Holy Fire

Helen Keller’s life was itself a parable of joy on fire. Born into silence and darkness, she could have lived in despair. Yet through perseverance, faith, and the guidance of Anne Sullivan, Keller became a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for the disabled, and a witness to resilience.

Her words — “Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow” — were not theory but testimony. Keller surrendered bitterness and embraced gratitude. She gave her life to education, advocacy, and compassion. Her blindness and deafness became not barriers but catalysts, igniting a fire that warmed countless lives.

In her, we see joy as divine energy: transforming limitation into light, suffering into service, and silence into song. She embodied Sheen’s teaching that joy is found not in what others do for us, but in what we do for others.

Feeding the Fire

Advent calls us to kindle this same fire. The Child of Bethlehem enters a world of obscurity, surrender, and gift. Joy is born not in abundance but in humility. Sheen’s words remind us that joy is not passive cheer — it is active flame. It is the holy fire that warms our purpose, keeps our intelligence aglow, and lights the path for others.

Like Keller, we are invited to live joy as witness:

Surrender what we cling to.

Give rather than demand.

Serve rather than be served.

In doing so, we echo the angels’ tidings of great joy.

Advent Rhythm of Life and Christmas

Advent joy is not passive cheer — it is active flame. It is the cry of the Child, the song of the angels, the surrender of Mary, the faithfulness of Joseph, and the witness of Helen Keller. It is the holy fire that warms our purpose, keeps our intelligence aglow, and proclaims that Christ has come.

As we approach Christmas 2025, let us feed the fire of joy. Let us see the world from God’s point of view: surrender as gain, giving as glory, service as song. Let our lives, like Helen Keller’s, become living examples of joy on fire — holy flames that warm the cold, illumine the dark, and proclaim that Christ has come.

J.M.J.

Prayerfully penned and composed by G.C. Stevenson

Advent 2025 Series — Word & Witness