杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Hope 鈥渋s the answer offered to the heart鈥� when it ponders the question of our final destiny, 杏MAP导航 Francis said at the on Wednesday.

Focusing on the second of the three theological virtues, the Holy Father acknowledged that 鈥渁 negative answer鈥� to questions about the meaning of life will lead to sadness: 鈥淚f there is no meaning to the journey of life, if at the beginning and the end, there is nothing, then we ask ourselves why we should walk鈥� and we end in desperation.

Without hope many people give up on life and 鈥渁ll the other virtues risk crumbling and ending up in ashes,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, before quoting Benedict XVI: 鈥淥nly when the future is certain as a positive reality does it become possible to live in the present as well.鈥�

A theological virtue

Christians realize that hope does not come from their own merit, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.  鈥淚f they believe in the future, it is because Christ died and rose again and gave us His Spirit.鈥� He explained that hope is a 鈥渢heological鈥� virtue precisely because 鈥渋t does not emanate from us鈥� but is a gift that comes directly from God.鈥�

Quoting a famous passage from St Paul 鈥� 鈥淚f Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins鈥� 鈥� the 杏MAP导航 contrasted faith and disbelief: 鈥渋f you believe in the Resurrection of Christ, then you know with certainty that no defeat and no death is forever. But if you do not believe in the Resurrection of Christ, then everything becomes hollow, even the preaching of the Apostles.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to warn against sins against hope, including 鈥渂ad nostalgia鈥� for the happiness of the past and despair for our sins, when we forget that 鈥淕od is merciful and greater than our hearts.鈥�

A world in need of hope

鈥淭he world today is in great need of this Christian virtue,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 proclaimed, adding that it also needs patience, 鈥渁 virtue that walks in close contact with hope.鈥� Those who are patient, he said, 鈥渁re weavers of goodness,鈥� always stubbornly desiring peace.

鈥淓ven when around us many have succumbed to disillusionment,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渢hose who are inspired by hope and are patient are able to get through the darkest of nights.鈥�

Finally, the Holy Father said that 鈥渉ope is the virtue of the young at heart,鈥� recalling the New Testament example of Simeon and Anna, who encountered the newborn Messiah in the Temple. 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded that it would be a great grace if, at the end of our lives, we could proclaim with Simeon, 鈥淟ord, now let your servant depart in peace鈥� for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of every people.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by calling on the faithful to 鈥済o forward and ask for the grace to have hope, hope with patience.鈥� And he invited them to 鈥淎lways look to the final encounter; always see that the Lord is always near us, that death will never, never be victorious.鈥�

Read the full text of 杏MAP导航 Francis' remarks at the General Audience on the Holy See .