Continuing the cycle of catechesis on vices and virtues, Francis spoke about hope, a virtue that does not emanate from us, but is a gift that comes directly from God.
Vatican News
Hope was the theme of Pope Francis’ catechesis at the General Audience this Wednesday (05/08), held in Saint Peter’s Square.
This theological virtue is the answer to questions about the ultimate meaning of man. If the path of life has no meaning, if at the beginning and at the end there is nothing, then we ask ourselves why we should walk: this is where man’s despair arises, the feeling of the uselessness of everything, explained the Pontiff. If hope is lacking, all other virtues risk collapsing and ending in ashes.
The Christian, on the other hand, has hope not on his own merit. If he believes in the future it is because Christ died and rose again and gave us his Spirit. In this sense, it is said that hope is a theological virtue, as it does not emanate from us, but is a gift that comes directly from God.
“If we believe in the resurrection of Christ, then we know for sure that no defeat and no death last forever.”
However, hope is a virtue that we often sin against, when, for example, we become discouraged in the face of our own sins, forgetting that God is merciful and greater than our heart. “God forgives everything and always, recalled Francisco”. “We sin against hope when autumn erases the spring within us.”
The world needs hope
For Francis, today’s world is in great need of this Christian virtue: “The world needs hope.” As much as it needs patience, a virtue that comes in close contact with hope. “Patient men are weavers of good,” he said. They obstinately desire peace and, even if some are in a hurry and want everything immediately, patience has the capacity to wait.
And yet, hope is the virtue of those who are young at heart; and age doesn’t matter here. Because there are also elderly people with eyes full of light, who experience permanent tension regarding the future. The Pontiff then concluded:
“Brothers and sisters, let us go ahead and ask for the grace to have hope, hope with patience. Always look for that definitive encounter; always look to the Lord, who is always close to us. And that death will never, ever be victorious. Let’s go ahead and ask the Lord to give us this great virtue of hope, accompanied by patience.”
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