Act of Hope

Bishop Bosco MacDonald celebrated Mass at the Shrine on 5th January after formally opening the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ in the Diocese at Clifton Cathedral on 29th December 2024.

During his homily, Bishop Bosco recited the Act of Hope:

“My God, I hope in you, for grace and for glory, because of your promises, your mercy, and your power.”

The Bishop explained the essence of prayer:  Where do we place our hope in life?  We often put our hopes in various things, such as politicians, celebrities, and the books we read, but these hopes can easily be dashed.  Therefore, we should redirect our hope back to God, who offers us grace – His active presence in our lives today – and glory, which encompasses our eternal future.

Why can we place our hope in God more than in anything else we might be tempted to trust? It is because of His promises and His mercy. Although God is the Creator of the Universe, all-powerful and supremely just, He is also profoundly merciful.