Gathering the Harvest of Catherine’s Hope

Presentation given by Brenda Dolphin rsm on 29 September, 2013 at the Second National Symposium on Catherine McAuley, Charleville, Ireland.

Brenda Dolphin rsm, Postulator for the Cause of Catherine McAuley, gave us a rich understanding of the theological virtue of hope. When we practice theological hope we are turning towards the true fulfillment of our human nature – towards the good –based on the reality of grace in the human person and we are directed towards supernatural happiness in God. Hope opens us up to God and teaches us to wait patiently and expectantly for God to come to us. All her life, Catherine, because of her reliance on the providence of God, continued to ‘confide in the generous bounty and never ceasing kindness of our beloved Saviour’.

One of the signs of lived hope that we can harvest from a study of Catherine’s life is youthfulness. We can emulate her by stretching out towards the ‘more’ that is at once adaptable and disciplined, has a resilient joy, has a strong-minded freshness, and holds in trust, a steady perseverance. These qualities distinguish the young and make them lovable.