Hope

Great thoughts on my favorite word from Father Richard:

Theologically speaking, we called the three virtues of faith, hope and love “supernatural virtues” bestowed by “sanctifying grace,” which meant they were “a participation in the very life of God” (Baltimore Catechism, #111). We don’t really build up to them, we fall into them, often in spite of ourselves. It is done to us, if we allow it, much more than anything we achieve by mere will power.

Hope is not occasioned by perfect circumstances. In fact, most of the people I know, who have great faith or hope, live in very difficult circumstances, and so they learn and trust “falling.” Folks who live in ease and self sufficiency, conversely, often need little faith or hope, because they never have to practice surrendering.

Adapted from Hope Against Darkness, p. 95