The Virgin Mary’s hope at the foot of the Cross is a determining factor of her maternal calling. By being united with her Divine Son as He suffered and died on the Cross: The Church teaches: “In this singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Saviour.”
The Church, like Mary, lives the Resurrection “in hope”. For the Church the Cross is an object of veneration from whence came our redemption, whereas Christ’s Resurrection is an object of hope.
Just as Mary was close to her crucified son, so the Church is called to be close to the crucified of today: the poor in spirit, the suffering, the humiliated, those who are persecuted for their faith. How can the Church stay close to these people? In hope, like Mary. It is not enough to pity people’s sufferings or even to try to alleviate them. This would be insufficient and anyone can do that, even those who know nothing about the Resurrection. The Church must transmit hope, proclaiming that suffering is not absurd, that it is meaningful, because there will be the Resurrection after death. The Church, and thus we her members, must give “a reason for the hope that is within us” (1 Peter 3:15).
People need hope to live just as they need oxygen to breathe. The Church too needs to proclaim this hope, to give faithful witness in a world crushed by all the internal and external sins, trials and suffering. And so we must live this time of the great trial of the coronavirus, with strength, responsibility, and most especially with hope. All things will pass away, “but my words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).
Hope has been, and still is, the poor relation among the theological virtues. Charles Péguy (1) has a beautiful image in this regard. He said that the three theological virtues—faith, hope and charity—are like three sisters: two grown-ups and one still a child. They walk together on the street holding hands, the two big ones on the sides and the little girl in the centre. The little girl is of course Hope. Everyone seeing them says: “It is certainly the two grown-ups who drag the girl in the centre!” They are wrong: it is the little girl Hope who drags the two sisters, because if Hope stops everything stops.
We must become “accomplices of the child, Hope,” as the same French poet said… This means you allow God to send you the cross of trials, disappointments and suffering on this earth as often as He wishes for your sanctification. More than that, it means being happy deep down in some remote corner of your heart that God didn’t listen to your pleading for goods that would not help you on the path to holiness.Taking up your cross and following Him, He has allowed you to show Him another proof of your humility and obedience to His divine will, and also your hope in His promises of eternity in Heaven. All suffering borne with patience for His sake is proof of your love and another act of hope, even if you struggle to accept these crosses and they become increasingly more difficult for you each time. He has granted you a much greater grace than the one you asked for: the grace of hope in Him. He has all eternity to reward you.
(1) French writer, Charles Péguy (1873-1914), poet and Catholic mystic, died on September 5th, killed by a bullet in his head, on the eve of the first Battle of the Marne (France) during WWI.
(A CP&S original, partly taken from a Lenten sermon by Fr Cantalamesa )
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Reblogged this on Zero Lift-Off and commented:
“A Gift of the Transitional Process”
Through our own suffering and embracing it we become lightning rods of hope and grace as Our Lady was for her Son the Divine Jesus Christ who was Hope, Grace, Eternal Love and Glory all these were and are contained on that cross from the eternal source of All Good; the Almighty! We can be with and in that full transitional process from the dust, to the Everlasting Glory, by Faith and accepting that Cross; our own personal Cross which allows and makes possible the Full Transition that only it can; this Perfect and Glorious Gift! In the end it is the Only Hope; Salvation!
This is a perfect Scriptural context or prism if you will from which to view what I say and this beautiful message of “Hope Against All Hope” is saying here.
“All things will pass away, “but my words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).
“a reason for the hope that is within us” (1 Peter 3:15).
Therefore to embrace your own suffering and be willing to take more, even as much as you can possibly heap upon your weary physical earthly life, is a great blessing and offering to give as your own, who you really are, personal gift of Hope and Salvation; knowing in your own heart that you accept God’s will as being “Perfect and All Encompassing” thereby allowing in this transitional process, His Power and Glory by “His Will” to work through you as an “Inspirational Gift” to convey this “Living Message” by example of Hope for others to share; and onto His Glory! Amen.
“Mother Mary” is the “Perfect Example” of what I’ve said here, as she fully accepted, though specially blessed; as a mere mortal, her “Obligation and Duty to the Father” in heaven; serving as that “Perfect Example” of “Hope and Grace” at the cross of our Savior and Forever! Amen.
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra III
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I wish I had not said or done many things, and I look back and say, why did I do this, or that; I was so weak and foolish, and wish I could go back and say; no don’t do that, stop.
I’m a sinner like all of us not worthy by any merits or deeds to enter into the Holiness of God as Scripture tells us, in Romans 3:4-31 4 “Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written,
“That thou mayest be justified in thy words,
and prevail when thou art judged.”
5 But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off?[a] No, not at all; for I[b] have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands, no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave, they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith.[c] 28 For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
We have not changed… not since the beginning of time. We are still self-centered and self-serving.
“But… in Jesus Christ… God sent his Son…according to Luke19:10… “to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Instead of judgment—Grace!
Instead of destruction—Salvation!
Instead of death—Life!”
But, I was wanting or needing as humans do; just a human being mostly trying to do so much good, for so much of my life, caring about so many things and others around me, but still there I was a dirty rag as all people are, so lost, so broken and unworthy, because I was fallen; fallen from all grace and glory, not even worthy to look upon it with my carnal, corrupted, sinful earthly eyes and ways. But, you Sweet Lord my Jesus Christ, look upon me with an Eternal Pity and Grace; understanding all sorrow and lift me up into the real light, on into the Glory of the Father, hallelujah; saying look to me, come follow me to your eternal Father who is in heaven loving you from the beginning and before you existed or any of this existed! He knew and loved you as He does more than ever now; but you must follow you can’t try to lead or do anything the world tells you to do to save yourself, as those ways are all crooked and fallen! So here my child; look to me and follow me home I will never let you down or go; you are Our precious beautiful child of “God the Almighty and Creator” of all things seen and unseen!
What an amazing miracle this is; thank you God and Jesus! Amen.
Thank you Blessed Mother Mary for being the “Radiant Example” for us to emulate in charity and selflessness; as we the fallen follow the will of our Father who is in heaven; being led by His only begotten and your Son; “Jesus our Lord and Savior” unto our “Gift of Salvation!” Amen.
God bless you all.
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra III
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