Pope Francis: hope is a gift from the Holy Spirit

Pope Francis spoke on the meaning of hope today, during morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta. He explained that hope is much more than simple optimism for Christians, it is constant expectation, a gift from the Holy Spirit, a miracle of renewal that never lets us down.

Reflecting on the words of St Paul in which he says: 'Never disappoint yourself'- Hope never lets you down. Pope Francis said: " Why? - Because it's a gift from the Holy Spirit".

Paul tells us that hope has a name. Hope is Christ. Elaborating on the meaning of hope the Pope said that it creates a tension directed towards the revelation of Jesus Christ, towards true joy that is eternal life. Referring to the virtues of faith, hope and charity, the Pope said that often the virtue of hope is seen as the most humble of the three, because - he said - it is hidden in life. You can see faith - he added - you can feel it, you know what it is. And charity too - we know what that is. But what is hope? What is this attitude of hope? First of all - he said - we can say it is a risk, a risky virtue - as Saint Paul says: it is a virtue of ardent expectation for the Revelation. "It is not an illusion".

He continued: "Jesus, the hope, renews everything. So hope is a constant miracle. "The miracle of what He's doing in the Church. The miracle of making everything new: of what He does in my life, in your life, in our life. He builds and He rebuilds. And that is precisely the reason of our hope". "Christ is the one who renews every wonderful thing of the Creation; He's the reason of our hope. And this hope does not delude because He is faithful. He can't renounce Himself. This is the virtue of hope."

Pope Francis concluded by reminding all Christians about the Virgin Mary's attitude after her son's death, up until His resurrection on Sunday. Hope - he said - is what Mary, Mother of God, sheltered in her heart during the darkest time of her life: from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. That is hope: she had it. And that hope has renewed everything. May God grant us that grace."

Source: Vatican Radio