ing now in this life that gives me any delight. . . . One thing there was for which I did desire to stay a little longer in this life, which was that I might see thee a Christian Catholic before I died. And my God hath granted me this more abundantly, in that I see thee now despising all earthly felicity, entirely devoted to His service. What have I now to do here?"[1] Such is hope based on faith—that "hope which is the natural food of faith."
What an inspiration St. Monica's faith is, and how richly it was rewarded! And what a consolation the story of her life should be for all of us, especially for the fathers and mothers whose sons and daughters, somewhat bemused by the temper of the times, are inclined to be wayward. When St. Monica interceded for her son, the Blessed Mother heard her prayers. She hears the prayers of other mothers who have recourse to her and ask her to enfold their children within her protecting mantle.
Mary, who is the Mother of Sorrows, is also the hope of all who are in pain, of all who have known suffering. Mary is the hope of the war veterans who still lie in the hospitals. Truly, gentlemen, you have your Golgotha, as Our Savior and His Blessed Mother had theirs. But remember that, the same Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross on Calvary will help you to bear your cross. Your future may be spiritually rich if you look beyond earth to your true home in heaven, to life eternal. In the rosary of the years that lie ahead, Mary is your hope.
Mary is the hope of youth, and youth is the hope of the world. If I might offer just a word of advice to young men and women whose lives are before them, it would be this: Do not let anybody tell you that you are part of a lost generation. That catch phrase is nonsense. It is defeatist; as a matter of fact, it is pagan. No generation has ever been lost since Christ redeemed man on Calvary—unless its members made up their minds that they wanted to be lost.
There is hope for the world, now torn by a basic conflict between the forces of God and the forces of anti-God. On the one side are those who believe in God the Creator. They accept the natural law which has its source in God the Supreme Lawgiver. They recognize as flowing from that law the natural rights of persons; and they acknowledge
_____
- ↑ Confessions of St. Augustine, Book 9, Chap. 10
