Catechesis on Hope

A Well-Executed Insight into Hope

This book is an incredible read. The book dives very deeply about the importance of having faith and hope, especially at times when one is losing faith and hope. It addresses faith and hope during times of distress, depression, abandonment, and even death.

I opened this book with little faith in myself; I was lost, upset, sad, even on the brink of having suicidal intentions. After reading the words of the Pope, I realized the importance of having hope and having faith, and I put down the book a changed person. Now, I live with the most ecstatic faith and hope, not solely in myself, but also for things to come.

Faith and hope, in the words of the Pope, is the very anchor that our existence is founded upon. It is how we achieve meaningful lives, it is how we find purpose; it is how we find the will and reason to continue on and not giving up on ourselves. The Pope tells all his readers that faith and hope isn’t merely a fantasy, or wishful thinking. It is instead the way we overcome our suffering, our depression, our abandonment, our death. Jesus Christ, as the Incarnate Son for Catholics, went through all the things that humans go through: sadness, abandonment, physical and verbal abuse, and even death itself. Jesus Christ is the very God who can relate to us in ways that we cannot imagine. He knows what it’s like to feel unloved, and unwanted, and sad, and deeply grieved. He wants to lift us up, walk with us, and hold our hand, and consider us a friend. Hope and faith in this, that Christ can lift all of us on our feet and wipe the tears from our eyes, is why, to the Pope, we must push on and live. We live for a greater cause and a greater purpose; and that purpose is ultimately Jesus himself. We must have faith and hope in the things that are to come, and we must also have faith and hope in our own lives. The Pope wants all of us, especially younger people, to go to Jesus, and trust in his love and goodness, having a real relationship with him which can give our soul the faith and hope it so grudgingly yearns for.

Anyone who is suffering in life, who has no hope or faith in his or herself, or who is so far gone that he or she wants to end his or her life now, please, do not pass over this book. Even if you find it bad or inconvenient, the words of Francis will surely give you a lot of what hope and faith has to offer you. Don’t miss out on such a great book as this.