Mercy Monday: Words for hope from Sister Helen Prejean

My (Only) Words for HOPE

When I am up against insurmountable odds,
The way I experience HOPE in my flesh and bones,
When it hums through my being
And quickens my intelligence and faith and trust,
Is when I grab the rope
Of an on-the-ground project
Or movement with others
For a noble, righteous cause
And throw my whole self into it.

Then, HOPE is not an abstract concept,
Not a pie-in-the-sky wish,
But a mighty Spirit flowing through me,
Enlivening and sustaining me,
Straight from the Living God.

For me, not to act is to live without HOPE.

Offered by Sister Helen Prejean for Salve Regina University, a proud Salve alum ’18 (April 20, 2020)

Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. is a Roman Catholic religious sister and leading advocate against the death penalty. She is the author of three books: “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States” (made into an Academy Award-winning movie); “The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions”; and most recently, “River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey.”

Sister Helen received an honorary degree from Salve Regina University in 2018 and delivered a stirring convocation address to the Class of 2022. Salve Regina leadership invited Sister Helen to offer a word of hope to our community for this Mercy Monday.

For more words of hope from Sister Helen, check out her 2018 Convocation address at Salve Regina University here.

Each Monday and Wednesday, SALVEtoday will provide a prayer or reflection for the University community to reflect upon during this time of remote living and learning. #salvesgotthis #mercymondays