--- title: Hope in a Time of Darkness description: "Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur reviews \"Beautiful Hope,\" a collection of essays that depict God at work in the midst of desperate situations." image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BookNotes_photo_2048x1149.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/05/20/hope-in-a-time-of-darkness/#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Hope in a Time of Darkness May 20, 2020 11:00:22 AM  |  by [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BookNotes_photo_2048x1149.png)   ![](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BookNotes_photo_2048x1149.png)   > Hope allows us to enter into the darkness of an uncertain future to journey in the light. – Pope Francis As I searched through my to-be-read pile of books to find one to read and review this month, I wanted to find something that would be relevant for the days we are living through. When my eyes fell on ***[Beautiful Hope: Finding Hope Every Day in a Broken World](https://amzn.to/2Sdxzk1),*** I knew I had found what I needed. ***Beautiful Hope*** is a collection of essays by both professional authors and everyday Catholics musing on the topic of hope. The essays are organized around four themes: Choosing Hope, Hope in the Church, Hope in Action: and Becoming Hope. There is much inspirational encouragement in these pages. In the Introduction, Pope Francis states: > Each one of us can say, ‘I hope, I have hope, because God walks with me.’ He walks and he holds my hand. God does not leave us to ourselves ... Evil will not triumph forever; there is an end to suffering. Despair is defeated because God is among us. Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, reflects on the two types of hope. “Proximate hopes are connected to our everyday thoughts and dreams. Ultimate hope is a theological virtue and is directly connected to the meaning of our life.” On the road of life, proximate hopes often get dashed which can be very painful. At those times, we need to root ourselves in ultimate hope. Fr. Sparough continues, > Ultimate hope is accepting what is beyond our control and believing that God will use the circumstances of our lives to help us grow in holiness. When the words “Jesus, I trust in you” become more than a prayer, but instead a way of living, we are on our way to embracing the theological virtue of ultimate hope. The saints are those who walk the path of hope. Within the pages of ***Beautiful Hope* **are several stories of God working in the midst of desperate situations. As Derek Gazal points out, “This hope is that God’s divine love is leading us through the unexpected twists and turns of life to a joy that is beyond our wildest, craziest imaginings.” Hope is trusting that God can take whatever muck we are going through and bring something good out of it. In these dark days when so many are hurting physically, emotionally, and economically we need to hold on to the theological virtue of hope. ***[Beautiful Hope](https://amzn.to/2Sdxzk1)*** offers much to reflect on and take comfort in as we make our way through this difficult time. [tweet "Beautiful Hope offers much to reflect on and take comfort in as we make our way through this difficult time."] ### **Visit [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** --- *Copyright 2020 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur* *This article contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchases through these links benefit the author.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2020%2F05%2F20%2Fhope-in-a-time-of-darkness%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2020%2F05%2F20%2Fhope-in-a-time-of-darkness%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2020%2F05%2F20%2Fhope-in-a-time-of-darkness%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Hope%20in%20a%20Time%20of%20Darkness) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2020%2F05%2F20%2Fhope-in-a-time-of-darkness%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2020%2F05%2F20%2Fhope-in-a-time-of-darkness%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Patrice%20Fagnant-MacArthur%202024.jpg) ### [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a master’s degree in applied theology and is the author of The Power of Forgiveness, Our Lady of La Salette: A Mother Weeps for Her Children, and The Life and Lessons of St. Zelie Martin. A mother of three, she is the editor of [TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com](http://TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com) as well as a [freelance writer and editor](http://Pfmacarthur.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Pray the Rosary Anytime Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/pray-the-rosary-anytime) [ The Fruits of the Mysteries of the Rosary Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/07/27/the-fruits-of-the-mysteries-of-the-rosary) [ Book Review: Dear God, You Can't Be Serious Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/07/03/dear-god-you-cant-be-serious) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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