Advent retreat focuses on the virtue of hope

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Father Langes Silva, the diocesan judicial vicar, gives the 2024 Advent retreat in English on Dec. 14 in Blessed Sacrament Parish’s social hall.

SANDY — The 2024 Diocesan Advent Retreat drew more than 300 people to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Sandy on Dec. 14. Father Langes Silva, judicial vicar, gave the retreat in English. Father Victor Alvarado, parochial vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in Ogden, presented in Spanish.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the retreat’s opening Mass. Concelebrating were the two priests who were presenters as well as other priests of the diocese. Deacon Greg Werking proclaimed the Gospel; other deacons assisted at the Mass.

Advent is “a time to prepare our hearts, and to get ready to welcome the coming of Christ,” Bishop Solis said in his homily, speaking in English and Spanish.

The season “calls us to be watchful in prayer and joyful in hope,” he said, adding that, for Christians, hope has a profound spiritual meaning. The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists it as a theological virtue, and “it is the desire for eternal life and happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven, based on our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our strength and capabilities but on the help of God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

God placed the virtue of hope “deep in our hearts,” the bishop said. “It inspires and beautifies our actions. Hope gives strength, patience and perseverance,” helps combat discouragement and sustains people in their struggles. “But most of all, hope is anchored in our faith in God, who loves us, and already sent his son to redeem us from sin and give us eternal salvation.”

Jesus was born in a stable and died on the cross “to save a fallen and broken world, and he comes to bring God’s gifts of joy, peace and salvation,” he said. “Christian hope helps us to see life through the lens beyond this world and to eternity, no matter what happens to us in this world. When Christ is with us, it makes all the difference.”     

Directing the retreat for the English-speaking community, Fr. Silva said the purpose of the gathering was to pray together and to meditate on the mysteries of salvation. “Throughout the meditations we are going to pray together, because for me it doesn’t make any sense to come to a retreat and we don’t pray.”

The first meditation was based on the theme of the Jubilee Year that will start on Christmas Eve day, “Pilgrims of Hope.” The second meditation was based on Pope Francis’ 2024 encyclical Dilexit Nos, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart devotion.

The encyclical emphasizes “the call to trust in the Lord in a world that makes us depend on other securities in life,” Fr. Silva said.   

He gave overviews of encyclicals in general and of the history of the Sacred Heart devotion.

The consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was, for him, one of the most important parts of the encyclical, Fr. Silva said, and he led those present in the prayer of consecration.

Hope was the theme of Fr. Alvarado’s presentation to the Spanish-speaking community, as well.

“People nowadays get confused with the meaning of hope,” he said. “Some might think it is waking up and stating, ‘Today I am going to have more money,’ and they think by saying this it will be a reality,” he said, but “real hope comes only from God.”

Fr. Alvarado’s retreat included reflections, singing and camaraderie; it ended with each person creating a prayer to God.