Mary, Our Hope - "Finding Hope in A Broken yet Wonderful World."

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Thanks to God’s abundant blessings, we are gathered once again at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption of the Archdiocese of San Francisco for the 11th Annual Legion of Mary Conference. This year’s theme, “Mary, Mother of Hope – Finding Hope in a Broken yet Wonderful World” embodies the multitude of our human experiences in this journey of life, a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes of its ever-changing nature, consisting of complexities, a symphony of events, and yes, life’s constant transformation and challenges. To some, life comes easily. For others, life can be paralyzing, a desperate struggle and disappointment, a world broken and dreams shattered. For this reason, Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminded them that “hope does not disappoint,” a message that Pope Francis sends to all the peoples of the world during this Jubilee Year – God loves us, and thus we must have faith in his love and mercy. We can be reassured that our life, through Christ, will be made whole again. We can trust and hope in a loving and merciful God.
Pope Francis writes in his Bull of Indiction, “Spes non confundit,” the following thoughts: “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often, we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic, and cynical about the future, as if nothing could bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope.”
The foundation of our apostolic system is spreading the message of hope to all. When everything has been tried and nothing has worked, when someone feels hopeless, abandoned, and discouraged, the Legionary steps in to remind God’s people not to lose hope. To the young seeking self-identity amidst a world of confusion, we tell them that they are truly special to God. To the poor, migrants, prisoners, the sick, the elderly, and the lonely, we make ourselves present before them, reassuring them we truly care for their joy and happiness and that they could count on us for their needs and that at the end, no suffering so great we could not endure, if we let Christ carry the cross with us.
The virtue of hope resonates with every member of the Legion of Mary, for our Mother, from the Fall to the Cross and now at Pentecost, is the Mother of Hope - Hail our Hope, spes nostra salve. In our Lady, we can completely trust one person alone to safeguard us from all dangers and the “disappointments of life”. There is no sinner, however seemingly abandoned by God, that Mary will not obtain grace and mercy if we invoke her holy name and intercession.
Despite only appearing once in the Legion of Mary Handbook (Ch 39), the word ‘hope’ " encapsulates the spirit of sacrifice made by every soldier of Our Lady in the battle for souls. We face many challenges and discouragements in the apostolic works we undertake as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what Frank Duff calls the “mark of the cross” – for God’s grace was only made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. Because of it, all who have remained faithful to Christ in the face of suffering, can hope, in Jesus through Mary, for a beautiful and wonderful world, the Eternal City of God! To Jesus through Mary.

Bro. Ando Perlas
President, San Francisco Senatus

"The Church, Hope of Sinners" by Sis Danielle Pezzini - Monterey Curia. Click Here to view the presentation. 

"Hope for Migrants and the Poor" by Bro. Charles McGloughlin, Sacramento Comitium. Click here to view the presentation. 

"Hope for the Youth of the World" by Bro. Jeremy Perlas, San Francisco Senatus. Click here view the presentation. 

"Hope for Life" by Bro. Michael Pereira, Oakland Comitium. Click here to view the presentation.