In times of difficulty and strife, it’s easy to feel hopeless. Sometimes it’s personal loss or tragedy, sometimes it’s climate catastrophe. Sometimes it’s the injustice meted out by authoritarian, extremist regimes. Sometimes it’s the weight of depression, anxiety, and trauma. Christian mandates to rejoice and be glad can feel ridiculous, even insulting, to those who see no cause for joy. When the weight of the world’s woes gets heavy, simply getting out of bed in the morning can be a chore. Hopelessness may seem like the most logical, realistic response to the state of humanity.

But aren’t Christians supposed to be hopeful? Technically, hope is a theological virtue. Hope is connected with faith and charity. So some Christians assume that hopelessness must be a sin, or at least a religious failure. It doesn’t help that some Catholics try to turn mental health issues into spiritual ones, even going so far as to claim that depression is caused by evil spirits.

So, what’s the difference between the virtue of hope, having hope for the future, and feeling “in a hopeful mood”? Are Christians required to be hopeful even in dire times? Is it a sin to be hopeless?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, Christine Valters Paintner discusses what it means to be hopeful in a world fraught with suffering. Paintner is a Benedictine oblate and the online abbess at abbeyofthearts.com, a virtual monastery integrating contemplative practice and creative expression. She is a poet and the author of more than 20 books on the spiritual life. Her newest book is A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness (Ave Maria Press).

You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Paintner’s writing, in these links:

“Biblical figures struggled with mental health, too”
By Alice Camille
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202402/biblical-figures-struggled-with-mental-health-too/

“How your parish can help those suffering from depression”
By Jessie Bazan
https://uscatholic.org/articles/201804/how-your-parish-can-help-those-suffering-from-depression/

“No one can avoid suffering, but Jesus points a way to healing”
By Kevin Considine
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202309/no-one-can-avoid-suffering-but-jesus-points-a-way-to-healing/

“It's OK to despair and swear at God”
By Michael Leech
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/soul-seeing/its-ok-despair-and-swear-god

“Learn to take your troubles to the Black Madonna”
By Christine Valters Paintner
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202204/learn-to-take-your-troubles-to-the-black-madonna/

“Exile is at the heart of the human experience”
By Christine Valters Paintner
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202308/exile-is-at-the-heart-of-the-human-experience/

Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.

Historically, nationalism has often turned out to be a bad idea. The most obvious examples of nationalism leading to atrocities include the Nazi regime in Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship in Italy, but today’s geopolitical scene involves a variety of problematic nationalistic movements, including in India, Turkey, Brazil, and Hungary.

Even though nationalism frequently leads to violence or even genocide, people keep trying it. Perhaps the logic is something like “As great as MY nation is, maybe this time it will work!”

Here in the United States, nationalism has usually come with a particularly Christian flavor. Aside from the usual concerns associated with nationalism, this pairing of politics and religion poses unique challenges. Does it even make sense to combine a political ideology like nationalism with a religion like Christianity (especially Catholic Christianity, which is all about universality and solidarity across borders)?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, theologian and activist Jim Wallis discusses the nature of Christian nationalism, whether nationalism can ever be truly Christian, and how people of faith should respond to the resurgence of Christian nationalism in the United States today. Wallis is the founder of Sojourners and the author of 12 books, including America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America (Brazos). He is the inaugural chair and founding director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice.

You can learn more about this topic in these links.

“Any religion allied with nationalism is dangerous,” by Stephen Schneck
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202304/any-religion-allied-with-nationalism-is-dangerous/

“Christian nationalism distorts the faith, says Lexington Bishop John Stowe,” by Heidi Schlumpf
https://www.ncronline.org/news/christian-nationalism-distorts-faith-says-lexington-bishop-john-stowe

“How one evangelical leader uses the Bible to expose the ‘False White Gospel,’” by John Blake
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/28/us/evangelical-christianity-false-white-gospel-wallis-cec/index.html

Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.

Every year at Halloween in the United States, amidst the usual vampires, witches, wizards, and superheroes, you may see a few costumes inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

If you aren’t familiar with this tradition, you might wonder about the significance of the floral crowns and beautifully painted skulls. Although the movie Coco recently brought Día de los Muertos into the public eye, Americans who are not of Mexican descent may still be confused about the celebration. Is this just how they do Halloween in Mexico? Or is Día de los Muertos the same as All Souls’ Day?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, scholar and educator Mathew Sandoval talks about the origin of this colorful and evocative tradition. Sandoval is a cultural historian and performance studies scholar whose research focuses on Día de los Muertos in history and popular culture. He is an associate teaching professor at Barrett the Honors College in Downtown Phoenix, where he teaches interdisciplinary seminars on art, culture, race, history, and activism. He also has a professional career as a performing artist, storyteller, poet, and filmmaker.

You can learn more about this topic, and read some of Sandoval’s writing, in these links:

“What is Día de los Muertos? An expert explains the holiday celebrating loved ones who have died”
By Matthew Sandoval
https://artscanvas.org/arts-culture/what-is-dia-de-los-muertos-an-expert-explains-the-holiday-celebrating-loved-ones-who-have-died

“Is Día de los Muertos the same as All Souls Day?”
By Joel Schorn
https://uscatholic.org/articles/201111/is-dia-de-los-muertos-the-same-as-all-souls-day/

“How ‘La Catrina’ became the iconic symbol of Day of the Dead”
By Matthew Sandoval
https://artscanvas.org/arts-culture/how-la-catrina-became-the-iconic-symbol-for-the-day-of-the-dead

“8 prayer practices to honor the dead on All Saints and All Souls Days”
By the U.S. Catholic editors
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202010/8-prayer-practices-to-honor-the-dead-on-all-saints-and-all-souls-days/

Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.