‘The Cross Is My Joy, Not My Sorrow’ is the story of Pablo María de la Cruz, a young Carmelite from Salamanca, Spain, who died in July 2023 at the age of 21. His death came a few weeks after making his religious profession as a Carmelite at the priory of St Andrew in Salamanca.

This preview of the documentary narrates the young man's life through the testimonies of family members, friends, priests, friars, and monks who had a close relationship with him and were direct witnesses to the work that God in him. It also includes several excerpts from an interview with Pablo that was recorded a few days before his death.

“Heaven exists, Jesus is alive,” he says. “Through suffering in illness, I found God, and through death in illness, I will go to Him. And that makes me immensely happy.”

Pablo offered his life to God for three intentions: for the conversion of young people through their encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist; for the unity of the Church; and so that the offering of his life might help us all to overcome our fear of death.

The preview below is in Spanish, but English subtitles have been included. The full documentary premiered at the Pontifical University of Salamanca on 16 January.