Be rejoicing in God with a joy of soul tranquil and moderate, according to what the Apostle says: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice (Phil. IV). And in another place he says: But the fruit of the Spirit is joy (Gal. V). Such gladness does not disturb the mind with the foulness of laughter, but lifts up the soul with desires to the supernal rest; where you may hear: Enter into the joy of your Lord (Matt. XXV). What manner of thing the heart of a virgin is, is for the most part shown by her laughter. For a virgin would not laugh shamelessly, if she had a chaste heart. The face is the mirror of the heart of man: she does not laugh wantonly, unless she be one whose heart is wanton. For out of the abundance of the heart, says the Lord, the mouth speaks (Matt. XII); therefore out of the abundance of a most vain breast does the face of a virgin laugh.
See what is read of this: That laughter is to be reckoned an error; and to joy I said, why do you vainly deceive (Eccl. II)? And again in the same place: Laughter is mingled with sorrow, and mourning seizes the end of joy. And the Lord says: Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. V). Truly the Apostle too says to those rejoicing madly: Let your laughter be turned into mourning (Jas. IV). Therefore flee laughter, sister, as an error, and exchange temporal gladness for mourning; that you may be made blessed, if as a pilgrim in the world you mourn, since they that mourn according to God are blessed, and they themselves shall be comforted. Know that you are a pilgrim in the world; nor do you have here a homeland, but in heaven. If the servant of Christ burned with such desire, that he said: I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ (Phil.
With how great a burning of love a man ought to be set ablaze, how plentiful the tears she ought to pour out in longing for her Bridegroom, until she is able to come to the embrace of Christ, and may not cease to weep abundantly until she reaches the Christ whom she desires to see. That man mourned that he was a stranger in this life who said in grief: 'Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged' (Psalm 119). For the heavenly Bridegroom will receive you exultantly and with the dearest embraces, if He has learned that you burn with longing for Him, and if you have wept in His absence, He being present will console you.