All the saints of God were full of hope as they were of faith and charity, but in some hope shines with especial brilliancy because of their surrounding difficulties.
Holy Job never ceased to hope even when everything seemed against him, and even his friends reproached him, and urged upon him that his sufferings were the due punishment of his sins. Amid all he said: "I know that my Redeemer lives." If we are patient like him we shall have a hope like his amid sorrow and trouble, and we may look forward to a recompense far greater than any present misery. If we are inclined to despondency, we shall do well to repeat these words again and again: "I know that my Redeemer lives."
Daniel and the three young men in Babylon were another splendid instance of hope. When ordered to eat the meat offered to idols, they chose instead to live on pulse and water, knowing they could safely commit their welfare to God. When commanded to fall down before the golden statue, and threatened with the fiery furnace, their hope failed them not. "Our God Whom we worship is able to save us." Daniel when forbidden to pray to God took no notice of the command or the threat of exposure to the lions, knowing that God would shut the lions' mouths. Pray for similar courage grounded on hope like theirs.
The Christians praying for the deliverance of Saint Peter from prison were a most instructive instance of hope. He was in prison, bound to four soldiers, to be executed on the following day. Yet they hoped on, even when all seemed hopeless, and prayed when it appeared useless to pray: God did not disappoint them, but set Saint Peter free by the ministry of an angel.
- text from Beautiful Pearls of Catholic Truth; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, Diocese of New York, 6 October 1897