A Renewed Hope

Fr. Matthew and St. Isidore youth traveled to Rome last summer to immerse themselves in holy places, become friends with the saints, and grow deeper in faith alongside a million young Catholics from around the world.

One of the most impactful moments during the Jubilee of Young People was Adoration. Kneeling there, surrounded by millions united in Christ, I let myself open my heart to Him fully. In that silence, I encountered the love of Christ. It was as if He was vanquishing the self-doubt, insecurities, and vices I so often carry, replacing them with His peace and His strength. I felt renewed and reminded that my hardships and struggles have not been wasted, but have shaped me for this very encounter. I left Adoration with a renewed hope.

This pilgrimage taught me that true, deep, intimate prayer begins with surrender, laying down my own will so that I can live out His. Through prayer and meditation on this journey, I realized that I have been holding onto certain relationships that only pull me closer to sin, when God has been asking me time and time again to let them go. I’ve learned to trust Him enough to allow Him to heal my heart and give me the strength to walk away from the things that separate me from Him.

One of the greatest graces I’ve experienced on this pilgrimage that changed me has been learning to leave behind the burdens of my brokenness, fears, and anxieties, and to trust more fully that God has allowed the pain I have endured to shape me into the man He is calling me to be. Many situations that once felt like obstacles, I see now were His protection and preparation, guiding me away from sin and into deeper dependence on Him.

I return home with a desire to walk forward as a true pilgrim of hope, knowing that Christ will never fail me.

I return home with a desire to walk forward as a true pilgrim of hope, knowing that Christ will never fail me.

—Eric, college student