Today, I bring these reflections on hope to their conclusion.  
As you begin reading this, you may wish to use the song which I shared (in part) with the retreat group: Send Me

Last time, we recalled how Mary and the saints inspire and bring hope to us.  Today, we reflect on the fact that we, too, can bring hope to others..

Corrie Ten Boom wrote:
When I enter that beautiful city,
 and the saints all around me appear,
I hope that someone will tell me,
“It was you who invited me here.”
 
As we move forward into this jubilee year of hope, we might ask ourselves: Concretely, how can we share your hope?  One key means is through gratitude.
 
This past summer, a family member shared a story with me of an experience in her prayer group.  A woman was describing the manifold woes in her life and the world…her brother was in the hospital…she was having a lot of hip pain…Trump got shot, on and on and on…
 
My family member wasn’t prepared for this, but somehow, the Holy Spirit seemed to be directing her and she interjected, sharing how we have so much to be grateful for and how God is really working behind the scenes. 
 
The conversation changed from doom and gloom to hope and praise. 
 
In my preparation for the retreat, I read over an article on sharing your hope, which offered some good tips:

• Pray with the scriptures and truth of the faith so you are ready to answer questions when they come
• Be joyful in the midst of hardship.  This will speak loudly.  This is also tied to gratitude.
• Kindness and generosity to others, especially those who are struggling or in need, can help open their hearts to hope.
• Pray: Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you; pray for those who you can see as in need of hope.

 
Pope Francis mentions groups of people with whom we should share signs of hope: the poor, migrants, the young, grandparents, etc. 
 
I would invite you to consider:
Is there someone in your life who you see as especially needing signs of hope? 
What will you do to share the reason for your hope with them?
 
Personally, in preparing these reflections, I was reminded that something as simple as a smile or kind word can rekindle hope in those I meet on a daily basis.  I need to remember and prioritize this. 
 
What opportunities to share hope do you have in your own daily life?

 Continued reflections on hope from a retreat day offered in September

As I opened this session, I asked the participants to close their eyes and imagine this: 
“You are a naval sea caption, returning from battle.  You were victorious, and now are sailing back to your home country.  Night is falling…your compass & charts had been looted during the fighting.   
 
As darkness settles over you, you begin to worry.  Suddenly, though, you see a star.  Somehow you sense that you must follow it, that it will show you the way.”  Then, I played this song for them: Hail Queen of Heav’n, the Ocean Star
 
I first heard that song a long time ago; there’s something so sweet and special about it.
 
Pope Benedict actually speaks to this title for Mary as Star of the Sea, telling us that the Ave Maris Stella was composed in the  eighth or ninth century.
 
I was first introduced to this poetic prayer when making my preparation for consecration to Jesus through Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort during my college years.
 
Life is like a voyage on sea, and, as Pope Benedict reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history.”  Holy people are like lights. 
 
Mary has pride of place in this.  With her yes, she opened the door of our world to God Himself;
 
Think about how, through the gospels, Mary shares hope with the world. 
 
First, at the Annunciation, her fiat changed human history and was the dawning of hope’s fulfillment.  St. Bernard gives us the lovely image that the angels held their breath waiting to hear what she would say. 
 
At the Visitation, she brought this hope to Sts. Elizabeth and John the Baptist. 
 
After the birth of Jesus, we might imagine her showing the shepherds and magi her little Baby, giving them hope and joy.
 
Mary persevered in hope, even at the Cross.  She encourages us to do likewise. 
 
In college, I used to pray The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In preparing this retreat, I recalled a reading from a homily of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, used on Fridays, which says: “Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that he would die?” Undoubtedly. “Did she not expect him to rise again at once?” Surely. “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely.   
 
She is “a sign of sure hope and of the definitive victory of good over evil,” as Pope Benedict XVI further teaches.
 
I went on to share briefly the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who brought Christian hope to the Americas. 
 
She beautifully said to St. Juan Diego: “Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness, vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms?”
 
Other holy people throughout history inspire us in hope as well. 
 
We see examples of hope throughout the Bible.  Think of Joseph’s trust in a foreign prison cell, David’s courage in facing the Giant,  Esther’s bravery in standing up for her people.  I could go on and on.
 
Pope Benedict told the inspiring story of St. Josephine Bakhita, who lived more recently and serves as an example of hope. 
 
At the age of nine she was captured and sold into slavery. She learned about God and His love and came to realize that He was the true Master of all.
 
St. Josephine actually turned down an opportunity to return to her native country in order to stay where she would have greater access to the Christian faith.  Eventually, she was baptized and became a religious sister.
 
Another example of hope, even in dark times was actually a contemporary of this Sudanese saint: St. Therese of Lisieux. 
 
Did you know that St. Therese struggled greatly toward the end of her life?  She had to fight against doubt and lack of hope.  Nonetheless, she wrote a lovely poem about hope in June of 1896 (a little over a year before her death):
 
My Hope
Though in a foreign land I dwell afar,
I taste in dreams the endless joys of heaven.
Gladly would I fly beyond the farthest star,
And see the wonders to the ransomed given!
No more the sense of exile weighs on me,
When once I dream of that immortal day.
To my true fatherland, dear God! I see,
For the first time I soon shall fly away.
Ah! give me, Jesus! wings as white as snow,
That unto Thee I soon may take my flight.
I long to be where flowers unfading blow;
I long to see Thee, O my heart’s Delight!
I long to fly to Mary’s mother-arms,
 — To rest upon that spotless throne of bliss;
And, sheltered there from troubles and alarms,  
For the first time to feel her gentle kiss.
Thy first sweet smile of welcoming delight 
Soon show, O Jesus! to Thy lowly bride;
O’ercome with rapture at that wondrous sight,
Within Thy Sacred Heart, ah! let me hide.
O happy moment! and O heavenly grace!
When I shall hear Thee, Jesus, speak to me;
And the full vision of Thy glorious Face  
For the first time my longing eyes shall see.
Thou knowest well, my only martyrdom Is love,
 O Heart of Jesus Christ! for Thee;
And if my soul craves for its heavenly home,    
‘Tis but to love Thee more, eternally.
Above, when Thy sweet Face unveiled I view,  
Measure nor bounds shall to my love be given;
Forever my delight shall seem as new      
As the first time my spirit entered heaven.
                                
It’s lovely to realize that she has now attained these fervent aspirations!
 
In my room, I have her picture and little statue with a lovely quote from her: “We can never have too much confidence in the good God… As we hope in Him so shall we receive.”
 
Numerous other saints have given us beautiful, inspiring words about hope.
 
I will share just a few here. 
 
St. Alphonsus Liguori: As a mother delights in taking her child on her knees, in caressing and feeding him, so does our God delight in treating with love and tenderness those souls who give themselves entirely to Him, and place all their hopes in His goodness and bounty. 
The more a person loves God, the more reason he has to hope in Him. This hope produces in the Saints an unutterable peace, which they preserve even in adversity, because as they love God, and know how beautiful He is to those who love Him, they place all their confidence and find all their repose in Him alone. 
 
St. Francis de Sales: When anyone places his whole trust in God, hoping in and serving Him faithfully at the same time, God watches over him, to the extent of his confidence, in every danger. Infinite is the love which God bears to souls who repose in His protection.
 
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayers.”

Below, I will share with you the content of the  next (fourth) segment in the retreat day I gave this past September, "A Reason for Your Hope."

Song: Yea My Life
Before we go any further in discussing the sacraments as sources of hope, we need to talk about the first sacrament, that is Baptism. 
 
I will quote heavily from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) in this segment. 
 
Baptism is a Sacrament of hope, in which we first receive this virtue.
 
Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes us “a new creature,” an adopted son of God, who has become a “partaker of the divine nature,” member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1265)
 
The Catechism goes on to tell us that in Baptism we

• receive sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:
• are enabled to believe in God, to hope in Him, and to love
• belong no longer to ourselves

 
It also teaches that the “Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord for the day of redemption.   Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life.”
 
“The faithful Christian who has “kept the seal” until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life “marked with the sign of faith,” with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.”
 
At this point in the retreat, I shared the story of a woman who experienced the wonder of baptism with her small baby in the hospital emergency room.  Her son had come down with RSV before being baptized.  Her parish parochial vicar came and baptized the child over the sink there.  It really impacted here, as she realized that, in this moment, he was made a new creation.  This was truly a moment of hope and joy, as their baby was given grace and infused with the theological virtue of hope.  It was also the start on his journey to physical recovery.
 
Along with Baptism, the Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1468ff) might also be considered a source of hope.
 
“The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship. Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament.”
 
The Catechism further teaches that “For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.” 
 
“The sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.”
 
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a fitting one for us as we meditate on this sacrament and its relationship with hope.
 
During this day of reflection, I also shared the experience of the day of my first confession, on which the clean, dazzling snow on the ground spoke loudly and beautifully of how clean one’s soul can become through the wondrous gift of this Sacrament.
 
Next, I shared thoughts on the Eucharist, drawing from section in Catechism: The Eucharist - “Pledge Of The Glory to Come” (1402ff)
 
The Church says of the Eucharist: “O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us.”  
         
The Catechism shares, also, that the Eucharist is an anticipation of the heavenly glory.
 
“When the Church celebrates the Eucharist remembers this promise and turns her gaze “to him who is to come.” In her prayer she calls for his coming: ”Marana tha!” ”Come, Lord Jesus!”    ”May your grace come and this world pass away!”  
 
We celebrate the Eucharist “awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” asking “to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are.”
 
“The Eucharist is the surest pledge or dearest sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth “in which righteousness dwells.”  We “break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ.”
 
Think about that this weekend when you go to Mass! 
 
You are going to receive a “Pledge Of The Glory To Come” and foretaste of Heaven!
 
After all, you’re receiving Jesus, Himself!