Hope and the Everlasting Promise
As we commemorate All Saints Day and All Souls Day, our hearts and minds naturally gravitate towards the thoughts of our departed loved ones. In the Catholic tradition, the entire month of November becomes a hallowed period dedicated to praying for the souls of those who have passed on. It is a month when we explore the profound concept of Eschatology—the theological study of the end times and the destiny of humankind. In this consideration, the life of Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia takes on a special resonance.
Saint Hannibal was a beacon, an apostle of hope. His life was a radiant testament of unwavering faith and resolute hope in the divine promise of eternal life in paradise. This hope was proportionate to his great faith, a hope that was not merely an accompaniment to his existence but the very fabric of his life.
His unwavering conviction resulted from his profound understanding of Christ's sacrifice. He frequently asked, "Why should Jesus suffer his atrocious Passion but to ensure paradise for us?" (The Father’s Soul, Tusino, 1973, 166). He lived in the absolute certainty of God's infinite mercy and Christ’s unparalleled sacrifice, fully acknowledging the paradise due to Jesus’ redemptive act on the cross.
While humble in his recognition of the great gifts he received as a priest and the account he would give to the Lord, Saint Hannibal was confident that God’s love would triumph. He found solace and grew closer to God by praying Saint Leonard of Port Maurice's prayer for a good death, manifesting his unwavering faith in God's mercy. He held a firm conviction that few souls are lost; he saw human rebellion as the only potential route to damnation and encouraged his flock to rely on the God-given instruments of salvation – prayer, sacraments, good works, and the intercession of the Holy Mary and the saints.
Saint Hannibal's life was a continuous testament of service, sacrifice, and work towards salvation. He encouraged perseverance towards trials, always maintaining the ultimate hope of union with God in paradise. His life was spent serving God, reflecting his stalwart hope of seeing God in paradise.
Saint Hannibal's message of hope permeated through his actions. He sparked the hope of paradise in everyone he interacted with, whether healthy, sick, dying, pious, indifferent, or even atheist. His mission was to fuse hope with faith and work, constantly reminding people that paradise must be reached through sacrifices, following the example of the saints. He loved inspiring the younger generation, fostering an early longing for heaven through faith, prayer, and good works.
As we dedicate November to remembering our departed loved ones and meditating on our ultimate destiny, the life of Saint Hannibal serves as an essential guide. Let us draw inspiration from his unwavering faith, unquenchable hope, and ceaseless love for God and humanity. Especially during this month, may we echo his sentiments and offer our prayers fervently for the souls of the departed, always hoping and believing in Jesus Christ's promise of eternal paradise. Saint Hannibal would say, "Yes, all in paradise, but pay attention... pray, avoid sin, and do good works with faith (Tusino, 169)."
Whether we find ourselves in the quiet of prayer, the reading of the lives of saints, or in sharing our faith with others, let us carry Saint Hannibal's words in our hearts, "[Daughters], as we are gathered here, so we hope to be in paradise! (Tusino, 170)" This is the fervent hope and eternal promise that turns our contemplation of Eschatology from something daunting into a source of comfort and hope.
Source: Tusino, Teodoro, The Father’s Soul, Rome: General Curia of the Rogationist Fathers, 165-170.
Fr. Viktor Emmanuel Aurellana is a Filipino Rogationist Religious Priest.
 | A guest post by
|