Possibilities of Hope

Everything is irreparable without confidence in God and everything is reparable with confidence in God. (Lett., 1099, p. 237)

St. Vincent Pallotti often used to say that everything was possible with confidence in God. Without confidence in God nothing was reparable, while with confidence in God everything was reparable. Thus for him the virtue of hope opened up diverse possibilities for his life. Animated by the virtue of hope, St. Vincent not only overcame his self-limitation with tranquility of mind, but he was also able to maintain a remarkable calmness of mind in every event that took place in his life. His expression was serene, his words were peaceful, and his dealings with others were courteous. Not only did he maintain a sense of confidence within his person, but he also radiated confidence in his dealings with others, thereby creating a sense of confidence in the persons whom he encountered in his daily life. In the oppressed, the discouraged and the disheartened, St. Vincent brought a ray of hope and helped them to cope with their difficult life situations courageously. Living his life with firm hope in God, St. Vincent, like St. Paul, carried on his life and every difficulty that came into his life with the thought that he could do all things in and through Christ who constantly strengthened him in whatever he undertook.

Am I able to maintain a calmness of mind in coping with difficult situations? Am I able to radiate confidence in my dealing with others? Am I capable of creating confidence in others? Do I trust that I can do all things with the help of God?

I can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)