The Virtues of Mary - Hope Hope, is a joyous expectation of future glory. How was Our Lady's Hope like while she was on earth? From the Gospel, we can easily gather how great was the hope that filled Mary's soul with joy. Whether it was at Nazareth, at Bethlehem, in the Temple, in Egypt, on Calvary, in days of sunshine and in days of gloom, the Gospel shows us Mary ever calm, radiant with peace and full of trust. How did she managed to do so? Because Hope springs from Faith. She believed even she didn't understand, even beyond natural reason. Mary believed readily, simply and with a lively faith, since she knew that with God all things are possible. Therefore, Mary's Hope became more manifest in the bitterest trials of life, and shone forth marvelously in her. Joseph is filled with doubt and anguish about her pregnancy. Yet she said nothing of the secret things she has heard from the Angel. She was silent, trusting in God that He will Himself reveal those profound mysteries to Joseph by other ways. People of Bethlehem refused to give her shelter on the night of her Child's birth but she uttered no word of lament, she hoped in God that He will provide for her the resting-place she needs. During the exile years in Egypt her greatest consolation was her hope that God, despite the fierce hatred of an earthly king, will care for her and bring her back to her homeland. At Cana, Jesus denied her the favour she asked. Her answer was a sublime act of hope in the Goodness of God Incarnate and it is rewarded by a miracle. In her grief for Jesus' sufferings, in her desolation at His Death, while the disciples have lost all hope, Mary rejoiced in the sweet assurance of seeing her Son will risen soon. So, if you are afflicted, embittered and disheartened by problems in lives, think of the example of Our Lady who was the 'blessed among women', and learn from her to hope! Not only that, when we pray the 'Hail, Holy Queen', we also greet her lovingly as "Our Hope". Since all our hope is centred in Jesus, Who is the author of life and happiness. But Jesus was given to us by Mary, thus the Saints have loved to think that all heavenly graces come to us from God through Mary. Let us in this month of May, turn to this 'Mother of holy hope' to pray for us who have recourse to her. (Reference: 'The Virtues of Mary' by Luigi Lanzoni, Loughborough: John Corah & Son, 1897)