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Road of Hope
a gospel from prison
by François Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân
 After
his arrest, despite tremendous risk, Van Thuan refused to remain
passive. During his nights in prison, he wrote encouraging messages
to the Vietnamese people. These brief reflections, scribbled on
scraps of paper, were smuggled out of prison, copied by hand and
circulated within the community. Bishop Van Thuan was thus able
to remain connected to his people in a hidden yet powerful way.
The Road of Hope is the collection of these 1,001 messages,
a true "gospel from prison," written to console and strengthen
a weary people in a war-torn land. They remain the heartfelt, personal
words of a father who sustained and nourished his children’s desire
for freedom. Today, they speak to us—an invitation to begin our
own journey on the Road of Hope, leading us into our future.
The Road of Hope has been called "an Imitation of Christ
for the 21st Century."
Put your hand over your often often and tell yourself: "God
is living with me and in me." Little by little, God will give
you a taste of that happiness which his presence brings. (page 49)
Act in such a way that your thoughts, words, and deeds will cause
others to remark: "This is a person steeped in one book, the
Gospel, and inspired by one ideal, the life of Jesus Christ."
(page 48)
Walking fast or rushing will not get you far, but only by walking
firmly and purposefully will you advance. There is no need to make
an urgent appeal to the world to advance. Begin to advance yourself.
(page 152)
No matter how many times a little child makes a mistake, the parents
still love her because they know the child bears no malice. Although
she keeps trying her best, things still go wrong, but it does not
matter. Only her good will matters. She loves her parents, even
if, as a child, she is weak. Likewise, God only asks for your good
will; his grace will help you. (page 168)
Every night, before going to bed, you ought to be able to say,
"I have loved all day today." (page 180)
To be deeply imbued with the love of God is to be deeply imbued
with a love of the world. To hope in God is to hope in the salvation
of the world. (page 219)
The
Road of Hope
0-8198-6473-0
15.95
For more information or to order Road of Hope click
here.
Other Writings of Hope
Testimony of Hope
Prayers of Hope:
Words of Courage
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