As we continue to journey through this Year of Hope, to whom are you looking to for guidance on your journey? Christians through the centuries have chosen Mary, Mother of God, for her wisdom and maternal mercy to lead them to the Truth, to true peace. For this reason, the title given to Mary is Lady of Hope.
True hope is not built on human words or assurances, but on God’s Word and His promise of salvation and eternal life. Mary, through her intercession, guides those who implore her help to grow in our faith in the Triune God and to have hope. A pilgrim of Hope is a person who realizes that their life is not only a day-to-day activity, but a person realizing that their daily life is a journey choosing to embrace God’s love for us. That is what it means to Hope in God – believing God is alive and loves us, and to place our trust in Him. Mary has appeared numerous times throughout the history of the Church in various parts of the world, presenting a message that remains repetitive, with an urgent direction for us to follow.
That message is of hope, to pray and to embrace her Son, the Savior of the world. Mary is a perfect example of hope. From trusting God to work through her saying Yes to become the mother of God, to her unwavering confidence that the death of her Son on the Cross was not the end for her Son.
A pilgrim of hope has a heart with a desire and longing for true happiness, which is Jesus Christ. Catholics throughout the world are united during this Jubilee Year to grow in our Hope in Christ and to have this time to learn more about Christ and the Church. That is very encouraging.
Walk with Her
Invite Mary to be your companion. She can protect us from many dangers in our day, perils both physical and moral. And she knows what danger is! She and Joseph had to wake during the night and leave Bethlehem to escape Herod’s death threat to kill the infant Jesus. They had to flee to Egypt, experiencing many challenges traveling through the desert. She saw her Son Jesus suffer His passion and excruciating Crucifixion. Can she relate to your pain? Oh yes! St. Josemaria Escriva said: Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.
Mary brings hope to all through her intercession, her protection, and the various stories of her apparitions to people claiming renewed hope in Christ. I invite you to take advantage of this special time, the Jubilee Year, to renew your hope in Christ. Invite Mary to be your companion on your journey. God has placed in each of our hearts the desire and longing for true happiness. Hope responds to this innermost desire and helps us to place our trust in God.
Originally written by Pilgrim Center of Hope for Today's Catholic newspaper.
Mary Jane Fox, D.C.H.S. is Co-Founder & Co-Director of Pilgrim Center of Hope with her husband, Deacon Tom Fox. The two left their careers after a profound conversion experience and began working full-time in ministry at their parish in 1986. After several years and having impacted tens of thousands of families, the Foxes founded Pilgrim Center of Hope in 1993 as a response to the Church’s call for a New Evangelization. Mary Jane is an invested member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre.
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.
