Francis of Assissi teaching on perfect joy:
“Perfect joy he taught one of the brothers does not come when their groups succeeds in giving a great example of holiness and edification to all lands. Nor would a great ministry of healing and raising of the dead. Nor would possession of all languages and all science, nor all understanding of prophecy and Scripture, and insight into the secrets of every soul. Nor would even the conversion of all unbelievers to faith in Christ.
But of when we come to our quarters – dirty, wet, and exhausted from hunger – we are rejected, repeatedly rebuffed, and finally driven away by force, then “if we accept such injustice, such cruelty, and such contempt with patience, without being ruffled and without murmuring, and if we bear all these injuries with patience and joy, thinking of the sufferings of our Blessed Lord, which we would share out of love for Him, that my brother, finally is PERFECT JOY!”
(SOURCE: St. Francis of Assisi, Willard, Renovation, p 69. As quoted in a sermon by Daniel Villa, "Christians Are Being Transformed" SermonCentral.com, 6/30/08)