As we walked along the San Antonio River a few months ago in the summer heat, one of my family members gestured toward the trees; “During Christmastime, they string up lights all along here,” he explained to a relative who was visiting for the first time. “It must be hundreds of thousands...”
“It’s just beautiful!” another relative said. “I love coming here during Christmas.”
Even though we were sweating after just a few minutes of strolling, shirts already starting to stick to our backs, those trees had reminded my family of a completely different time, place, and experience—an experience that had left an impression.
Thinking back on that brief moment, I sit here writing to you from Pilgrim Center of Hope as we’re all about to close the Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ on January 6, 2026. After the banners and holy cards have come down from church walls and pews, I pray that—just as my family recalled the beautiful Christmas lights along the Riverwalk, we Catholics will be able to recall the reasons for our hope... no matter what we may face each day.
Admittedly, our Church Catechism’s definition of hope can seem quite contrary to the average ‘daily life.’ Why, for instance, should we prefer this virtue—by which we “desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness,” when our instincts urge us to seek material security in the here and now, else we be miserable? Why, we might ask, should we “place our trust in Christ’s promises” as the definition of hope suggestions, while so many people have broken so many promises made to us? Why should we “(rely) not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit,” in society that promotes lifting oneself up by one’s own bootstraps?
It doesn’t take much for our spiritual enemy to convince us that the Church’s definition of hope is backwards or that hope itself is useless.
So, how and why do we hold onto hope? Because no matter what, since the stargazers of ancient times, humanity has always looked beyond ourselves. We contain a ‘spiritual DNA’ that refuses to remain satisfied with living by fears and limitations. We were made to want more; to transcend the here and now. We were made to desire eternity.
In other words: We were built to seek hope.
Let’s remind ourselves of the good news that hope isn’t something we conjure up on our own; it’s a gift we receive from God. The Catechism’s definition begins by telling us this: “Hope is the theological virtue...” (no. 1817). ‘Theo-’ means it’s from God.
The better news is that our Heavenly Father gifts the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (cf. Luke 11:11-13), so we need not worry about whether God wants to give us hope at any moment.
To gain hope, we only need to ask and receive it. Pope Benedict XVI described this process in his letter Spe salvi:
“Man was created for greatness—for God himself; he was created to be filled by God. But his heart is too small for the greatness to which it is destined. It must be stretched” (33).
We must stretch; like the Riverwalk workers who climbed up way before Christmas and hung all those strings so that 200,000 lights could dazzle and delight long after.
A simple start is to practice gratitude for all that we've been given; our every breath, every ability and talent, every chance to start fresh. Start with one: ‘I thank you, God, for (fill in the blank).’ Then, stretch and repeat.
We can prepare ourselves to receive the gift of hope by authentically speaking with Jesus Christ daily, especially when we are confused, distraught, or tired... and by training the ears of our hearts to listen—not to the discouragement of our enemy—but to God’s Word for us in Scripture, in Mass, in regular Reconciliation and Eucharist, moments of silence, and in the blessed people of our community who make up Christ’s Body here on earth.
In reality, opportunities to receive hope surround us! Our ability to receive this gift will require that we ‘stretch’ through intentional decisions. Such practices come with the reward of being ready, like the saints through the centuries, to receive a gift that sees beyond any material or temporary circumstance, with stronger hope each day.
As St. Katharine Drexel exhorted;
“Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing.”
Originally written by Pilgrim Center of Hope for Today's Catholic newspaper.
Angela Sealana is the Media Coordinator for Pilgrim Center of Hope, having served at the apostolate since 2010. She also serves on the PCH Speaker Team.
Pilgrim Center of Hope provides events, experiences, and media; initiating a desire in people to encounter Jesus Christ in their daily journey of life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
