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A Gift of Joy and Hope
In this encouraging book, Pope Francis explores the meaning of true joy and offers an inspiring even in dark times, the light of hope can shine bright. The past few years have been extremely challenging, but even in dark times, the light of joy can shine bright.
True joy, says Pope Francis, is not a fleeting sentiment or a short-term solution to suffering; it springs from a solid hope that nothing and no one can take away.
A Gift of Joy and Hope is an invitation to embrace authentic beauty and a reminder to be open to encountering God, even in the midst of challenges. In this inspiring collection, Pope Francis encourages readers to change attitudes that exclude others; to reveal the deep dissatisfaction we all hide; and to overcome life’s challenges with courage and faith. He also challenges readers to hope without pessimism or doubt, to hope even in the midst of anxiety, to recognize the beauty all around us, and to let God show us how to deal with your doubts and fears.
This book aims to encourage readers to look outside themselves and believe that hope is still possible and that joy always has the last word.
True joy, says Pope Francis, is not a fleeting sentiment or a short-term solution to suffering; it springs from a solid hope that nothing and no one can take away.
A Gift of Joy and Hope is an invitation to embrace authentic beauty and a reminder to be open to encountering God, even in the midst of challenges. In this inspiring collection, Pope Francis encourages readers to change attitudes that exclude others; to reveal the deep dissatisfaction we all hide; and to overcome life’s challenges with courage and faith. He also challenges readers to hope without pessimism or doubt, to hope even in the midst of anxiety, to recognize the beauty all around us, and to let God show us how to deal with your doubts and fears.
This book aims to encourage readers to look outside themselves and believe that hope is still possible and that joy always has the last word.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 27, 2022
52 people are currently reading
1491 people want to read
About the author
Pope Francis
1,322 books1,000 followersPope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 22, 2022
I’m not Catholic but happily read A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis. This is compilation of thoughts drawn from talks and writings of the Pope. It isn’t meant to be read straight through as a novel. Each message is only one to three paragraphs in length. They are all positive, wanting the reader to find inner peace, joy and hope. I would suggest reading a message as a daily devotional or meditation. Something to ponder during the day. A section contains written prayers from the Pope too. I enjoyed the ending interview with the Pope where he talks of his collaborating with Pope Benedict XVI and shared other personal thoughts. I laughed at his story where a woman told him if he ever becomes Pope to get a small dog as his food tester. Pope Francis is probably the most famous man I have seen in person. I was thrilled to stand in the square at the Vatican and hear him speak. As the spiritual leader to millions I can appreciate his desire for people to be happy and live good lives. Thank you to NetGalley and Worthy Publishing, Worthy Books for an ARC in exchange for a review.
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September 11, 2022I’m not Catholic but I love the principles in this sweet book! In A Gift of Joy and Hope Pope Francis reveals his wishes for readers to smile, have peace, and receive the gift of hope from God.
I love how this book is presented, in brief morsels of thoughts and prayers, offering plenty of stopping points to ruminate on what you’ve read. Of course, you could read the book through without stopping, but I feel much more is absorbed when you pause and reflect on each devotion.
We all experience difficult times, and this book doesn’t gloss over that, but our mind-set and our heart-set can ultimately guide us through those times. This is an uplifting, inspiring, hope-filled book.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
I love how this book is presented, in brief morsels of thoughts and prayers, offering plenty of stopping points to ruminate on what you’ve read. Of course, you could read the book through without stopping, but I feel much more is absorbed when you pause and reflect on each devotion.
We all experience difficult times, and this book doesn’t gloss over that, but our mind-set and our heart-set can ultimately guide us through those times. This is an uplifting, inspiring, hope-filled book.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
September 27, 2022
A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis offers snippets of encouragement in walking with Jesus through life from the Pope.
Pope Francis shares a mix of his wisdom, thoughts and snippets of faith thoughts throughout A Gift of Joy and Hope. I think there is encouragement for both Catholics and other Christians in this book--as I am not Catholic. I was interested to see what this Pope had to say though as I have read about him. However, it was more disjointed than I expected--I am thinking maybe that comes with the language translation. I think it is sort of like a collection of the Pope's thoughts and bits of wisdom related to the topics of Faith, Joy and Hope. He shares at the beginning that he wants people to smile and that is his wish in one word. I guess, I found the book to be more simplistic than I expected and it certainly isn't too deep for most people. Everyone should be able to come away with something positive to think about from this book. The nice thing about the way A Gift of Joy and Hope is arranged is that you can read a bit and then set it down and pick it up again after reflecting on what you last read without losing anything from the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review of my own.
Pope Francis shares a mix of his wisdom, thoughts and snippets of faith thoughts throughout A Gift of Joy and Hope. I think there is encouragement for both Catholics and other Christians in this book--as I am not Catholic. I was interested to see what this Pope had to say though as I have read about him. However, it was more disjointed than I expected--I am thinking maybe that comes with the language translation. I think it is sort of like a collection of the Pope's thoughts and bits of wisdom related to the topics of Faith, Joy and Hope. He shares at the beginning that he wants people to smile and that is his wish in one word. I guess, I found the book to be more simplistic than I expected and it certainly isn't too deep for most people. Everyone should be able to come away with something positive to think about from this book. The nice thing about the way A Gift of Joy and Hope is arranged is that you can read a bit and then set it down and pick it up again after reflecting on what you last read without losing anything from the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review of my own.
April 11, 2023
Ma siiralt usun, et Eesti kristlus oleks 100x parem kui kõik Paavsti loeks. Jah ta on vahepeal täielik katoliiklane oma arvamuste ja õpetuse poolest. Aga tal on läbiv teema: armastus. Kõike tuleb teha armastuse läbi.
Tsiteerides seda raamatut:
“When faced with a non-believer, the last thing I want to do is try and convince them of my faith. The last thing I will do is talk. I must live in a manner that is consistent with my faith. And by bearing witness, the curiosity of the other person will awaken. Eventually, they will question: 'Why do you live this way? And then I can begin to talk, only then I will speak. But never, ever proselytise the gospel. If someone claims to be a disciple of Jesus and wants to attract you through proselytising, he is not a true disciple of Jesus. We do not proselytise. The Church does not grow through proselytising. As Pope Benedict once said, the Church grows through attraction, by bearing witness. Soccer teams or political parties can proselytise, but faith does not proselytise. If someone asks me: 'But why do you live this way? I reply, 'Read, read the gospel; this is my faith.' And I say this without any pressure.”
Tsiteerides seda raamatut:
“When faced with a non-believer, the last thing I want to do is try and convince them of my faith. The last thing I will do is talk. I must live in a manner that is consistent with my faith. And by bearing witness, the curiosity of the other person will awaken. Eventually, they will question: 'Why do you live this way? And then I can begin to talk, only then I will speak. But never, ever proselytise the gospel. If someone claims to be a disciple of Jesus and wants to attract you through proselytising, he is not a true disciple of Jesus. We do not proselytise. The Church does not grow through proselytising. As Pope Benedict once said, the Church grows through attraction, by bearing witness. Soccer teams or political parties can proselytise, but faith does not proselytise. If someone asks me: 'But why do you live this way? I reply, 'Read, read the gospel; this is my faith.' And I say this without any pressure.”
December 24, 2024
THE most instantaneously impactful book i’ve ever read. My whole attitude towards life has been given a booster shot with fervor for life.
Pope Francis speaks directly to my soul and really addresses what is most important in life — in all aspects of life. He has such compassion and love for ALL groups of people and urges the reader to stray from a life of consumption and indifference.
His writings are so poetic and moving, and I will definitely be seeking out more of his literary works in the near future.
1000/10
Pope Francis speaks directly to my soul and really addresses what is most important in life — in all aspects of life. He has such compassion and love for ALL groups of people and urges the reader to stray from a life of consumption and indifference.
His writings are so poetic and moving, and I will definitely be seeking out more of his literary works in the near future.
1000/10
September 15, 2022
I received a free copy of, A gift of Joy and Hope, by Pope Francis, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book would be more personal, stories, instead we get snippets of wisdom, prayers, vignettes, about get closer and staying closer to God. It was a good book, I thought it could be better, if it was more personal.
October 9, 2022
A Gift of Joy and Hope is an inspirational book from Pope Francis. He enlightens readers to have hope even in the dark times. He provides wisdom and a hopeful outlook on our everyday lives. It's a read that I can always look back to when I need a reminder to find the best in every situation.
March 7, 2025
Good stuff. Believing the world is a good place does a lot for you
May 25, 2023
Disclaimer: I received my copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a lovely collection of quotes from Pope Francis on the topic of, as the title suggests, joy and hope. The pope is an elequent speaker and writer, and these assorted sayings are thought-provoking and heart-warming. This isn’t the sort of book you read through in one go, but rather one you turn to when you need a bit of wisdom or cheering up. I really liked the collection of prayers at the end - the simple but affecting “Thank You” prayer in particular would be really nice for a CCD class.
My one complaint is that I wish the sourcing of the quotes were a bit more robust. I didn’t like having to flip to the list of citations at the end to find the origin of each quote, and many were attributed simply to a “message” or “address” without giving further context.
But that’s a minor complaint and overall, this would be an excellent addition to any religious book collection.
This is a lovely collection of quotes from Pope Francis on the topic of, as the title suggests, joy and hope. The pope is an elequent speaker and writer, and these assorted sayings are thought-provoking and heart-warming. This isn’t the sort of book you read through in one go, but rather one you turn to when you need a bit of wisdom or cheering up. I really liked the collection of prayers at the end - the simple but affecting “Thank You” prayer in particular would be really nice for a CCD class.
My one complaint is that I wish the sourcing of the quotes were a bit more robust. I didn’t like having to flip to the list of citations at the end to find the origin of each quote, and many were attributed simply to a “message” or “address” without giving further context.
But that’s a minor complaint and overall, this would be an excellent addition to any religious book collection.
April 25, 2025
Did you read any books for the Easter season? I read A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis. I didn’t realize as I finished it on Easter that Pope Francis would be gone by the next morning.
A Gift of Joy and Hope is a collection of thoughts taken from the speeches and writings of Pope Francis. It focuses on how joy and hope can be found even in times of darkness and despair. I enjoyed how the book was set up with brief sections about different topics. It made it really easy to pick this book up and read it even when I didn’t have much time. A section at the end contains the prayers of Pope Francis.
My favorite quotes give a good insight into what this book is like:
“It would be good for our Western society, always in too much of a hurry, to learn how to stop and contemplate things, even in a poetic manner.”
“Sometimes all of our youthful energy, dreams, and enthusiasm waver and we are tempted to dwell on ourselves and our problems, hurt feelings, and grievances. Don’t let this happen to you! You will grow old inside before your time.”
Saint Teresa of Calcutta quote was referenced, “Whoever, on the journey of life, has lit even one torch in someone’s darkest hour has not lived in vain.”
“This reminds me of just how many of us Christians live in a state of apathy, incapable of doing anything, always complaining about everything. Apathy is a poison; it is a fog that surrounds the soul and suffocates it.”
“True joy does not come from owning things. No! It is born of an encounter, from having a relationship with others, from feeling accepted, understood, and loved, from accepting understanding, and loving. It is not because of a passing fancy, but because we understand that the other is a complete person.”
“Acceptance and a dignified integration into society are stages of a difficult process, but it is unthinkable that we address this problem by putting up walls. I grow fearful when I hear certain speeches by new populist leaders; they mind me of speeches that spread fear and hatred back in the 1930s.”
Overall, A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis was a wonderful book to read during Lent and Easter. Pope Francis writes with wisdom and really gives great thoughts on how to live a happy life and to be compassionate to all.
Book Source: Review copy from Hachette Book Group. Thank-you!
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...
A Gift of Joy and Hope is a collection of thoughts taken from the speeches and writings of Pope Francis. It focuses on how joy and hope can be found even in times of darkness and despair. I enjoyed how the book was set up with brief sections about different topics. It made it really easy to pick this book up and read it even when I didn’t have much time. A section at the end contains the prayers of Pope Francis.
My favorite quotes give a good insight into what this book is like:
“It would be good for our Western society, always in too much of a hurry, to learn how to stop and contemplate things, even in a poetic manner.”
“Sometimes all of our youthful energy, dreams, and enthusiasm waver and we are tempted to dwell on ourselves and our problems, hurt feelings, and grievances. Don’t let this happen to you! You will grow old inside before your time.”
Saint Teresa of Calcutta quote was referenced, “Whoever, on the journey of life, has lit even one torch in someone’s darkest hour has not lived in vain.”
“This reminds me of just how many of us Christians live in a state of apathy, incapable of doing anything, always complaining about everything. Apathy is a poison; it is a fog that surrounds the soul and suffocates it.”
“True joy does not come from owning things. No! It is born of an encounter, from having a relationship with others, from feeling accepted, understood, and loved, from accepting understanding, and loving. It is not because of a passing fancy, but because we understand that the other is a complete person.”
“Acceptance and a dignified integration into society are stages of a difficult process, but it is unthinkable that we address this problem by putting up walls. I grow fearful when I hear certain speeches by new populist leaders; they mind me of speeches that spread fear and hatred back in the 1930s.”
Overall, A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis was a wonderful book to read during Lent and Easter. Pope Francis writes with wisdom and really gives great thoughts on how to live a happy life and to be compassionate to all.
Book Source: Review copy from Hachette Book Group. Thank-you!
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...
October 23, 2022
In A Gift of Joy and Hope, Pope Francis is a book with the goal to teach readers about the power of a smile- that many of us have lost from our childhood. He explained how Jesus is God’s smile and how Jesus died for our sins. All we need to do is look around to see the countless ways in which God smiles at His people. He explained how darkness is become more mainstream and we are losing our hope. We can discover great hope in coming to our Heavenly Father and receiving His rest. We don’t have to live overworked and tired all the time. We can see hope when we look in the face of a child and we are seeing them smile back at us. God can provide us with a smile if we chose to realize that we are in face His child.
One of my favorite chapters touched on the topic of sadness. We can obtain freedom from depression and sadness when we chose to provide service to others and becoming united as community. We can become like the disciples of Christ and live for Christ. Pope Francis explained how there is a famine of hope in the world and how we can transmit hope out unto the world. He encouraged readers to throw themselves into the arms of their Father and to always remember that He loves us. He revealed how important the church is and how it needs us to be at peace, showing compassion, being in communion, praying, and to bear witness to others.
I would recommend this amazing book on the teaching of Pope Francis to anyone who is seeking a positive book filled with the teachings of Christ. I immensely enjoyed how he discussed the power of smiling and how many of us don’t know how to laugh, smile, or cry anymore. I liked how in the book he shared what we can learn from children and to get our hope and joy back. I truly believe if we would listen to the teaching in this book and God’s word then we would see more kindness in the church and outside the walls of the church. I also liked how at the end of the book he included a special interview and prayers we can pray.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”
One of my favorite chapters touched on the topic of sadness. We can obtain freedom from depression and sadness when we chose to provide service to others and becoming united as community. We can become like the disciples of Christ and live for Christ. Pope Francis explained how there is a famine of hope in the world and how we can transmit hope out unto the world. He encouraged readers to throw themselves into the arms of their Father and to always remember that He loves us. He revealed how important the church is and how it needs us to be at peace, showing compassion, being in communion, praying, and to bear witness to others.
I would recommend this amazing book on the teaching of Pope Francis to anyone who is seeking a positive book filled with the teachings of Christ. I immensely enjoyed how he discussed the power of smiling and how many of us don’t know how to laugh, smile, or cry anymore. I liked how in the book he shared what we can learn from children and to get our hope and joy back. I truly believe if we would listen to the teaching in this book and God’s word then we would see more kindness in the church and outside the walls of the church. I also liked how at the end of the book he included a special interview and prayers we can pray.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”
April 28, 2025
Táto kniha dokáže uzdraviť ubolené srdce. Pápež František bol výnimočným človekom. Ukázal nám (alebo pripomenul), ako byť dobrým človekom, ako nestrácať nádej, ako žiť pre druhých a nájsť väčší zmysel života. Ako sa nevzdávať, neutápať sa v smútku, pretože pre to sme neboli stvorení. Každý tu má nejaké poslanie a Boh nás nikdy neopustí. Nikdy nie sme sami. Nič nie je stratené. A Jeho plán, ktorý s nami má, je geniálne premyslený. Táto kniha nám pripomína to, na čo niekedy zabúdame. Pápež František nám pomohol pozrieť sa na svet a na seba v inom svetle.
Učí nás, ako aj v dnešnej ťažkej dobe nestratiť vieru a prijať ju do svojho života. Ako nepoľaviť a aj naďalej milovať. Pomenoval choroby dnešného sveta, nie tie medicínske, no tie, ktoré súvisia s egom, napríklad prečo si niektorí ľudia myslia, že sú najlepší a dokonca nesmrteľní. Pápež František dával čitateľovi pohotové odpovede. Občas som sa smiala.
Neviem, či by som túto knihu odporučila aj neveriacim, lebo tam síce sú nádherné myšlienky, ktoré sa týkajú všetkých, no sú prepojené s Bohom a Bibliou. Pomáhal nám pozerať sa na úryvky z Biblie z iného uhla pohľadu. Bolo zvláštne čítať ich po anglicky, ale v mysli mi vždy zaznel slovenský preklad. Aj keď je text veľmi súčasný a pápež František ho prispôsobil dnešnej dobe, všetko sa vracia naspäť k Bohu. Je to nádherne citlivé čítanie pre veriacich. Pripomína nám to dôležité. Rozplače, no tiež rozosmeje. Je plné viery, nádeje a lásky.
Učí nás, ako aj v dnešnej ťažkej dobe nestratiť vieru a prijať ju do svojho života. Ako nepoľaviť a aj naďalej milovať. Pomenoval choroby dnešného sveta, nie tie medicínske, no tie, ktoré súvisia s egom, napríklad prečo si niektorí ľudia myslia, že sú najlepší a dokonca nesmrteľní. Pápež František dával čitateľovi pohotové odpovede. Občas som sa smiala.
Neviem, či by som túto knihu odporučila aj neveriacim, lebo tam síce sú nádherné myšlienky, ktoré sa týkajú všetkých, no sú prepojené s Bohom a Bibliou. Pomáhal nám pozerať sa na úryvky z Biblie z iného uhla pohľadu. Bolo zvláštne čítať ich po anglicky, ale v mysli mi vždy zaznel slovenský preklad. Aj keď je text veľmi súčasný a pápež František ho prispôsobil dnešnej dobe, všetko sa vracia naspäť k Bohu. Je to nádherne citlivé čítanie pre veriacich. Pripomína nám to dôležité. Rozplače, no tiež rozosmeje. Je plné viery, nádeje a lásky.
July 22, 2025
3.5 stars.
This is a nice book to use when you want something to meditate on, a book on how to have hope and joy in your life no matter how it is going, how God (and Trinity) is always ready to meet you, how bringing hope and joy to people is also important, how prayer is a really good tool. There is some parts that clearly have been written for young people in their uncertainties of growing up and finding their way.
I said that this book had writings to meditate on because the snippets are generally short (but a few are longer). The tone is generally optimistic, yet also comforting, stating God’s care and willingness to meet us again and again. At the end are some prayers (of course some are clearly from situations where the Pope has met certain groups of people (like people living in the Amazon forest, or Lithuanian poeple)), and an interview on how he is handling his role as a Pope – a bit strange to include in my opinion, but I don’t mind reading about it at least once.
My rating is mainly because I felt this was a little light in its message – very good message, though – and I felt I would’ve liked to read more, but it’s a pretty good book to add to my pile of books of his writings.
This is a nice book to use when you want something to meditate on, a book on how to have hope and joy in your life no matter how it is going, how God (and Trinity) is always ready to meet you, how bringing hope and joy to people is also important, how prayer is a really good tool. There is some parts that clearly have been written for young people in their uncertainties of growing up and finding their way.
I said that this book had writings to meditate on because the snippets are generally short (but a few are longer). The tone is generally optimistic, yet also comforting, stating God’s care and willingness to meet us again and again. At the end are some prayers (of course some are clearly from situations where the Pope has met certain groups of people (like people living in the Amazon forest, or Lithuanian poeple)), and an interview on how he is handling his role as a Pope – a bit strange to include in my opinion, but I don’t mind reading about it at least once.
My rating is mainly because I felt this was a little light in its message – very good message, though – and I felt I would’ve liked to read more, but it’s a pretty good book to add to my pile of books of his writings.
September 4, 2022
A Gift of Joy and Hope is a religious book by Pope Francis. Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in 2013 was elected Bishop of Rome, the 266th pope of the Catholic church.
The thesis of this book is that the light of joy can shine even in the darkest of times ~ hope is still possible for those who believe.
A Gift of Joy and Hope is organized into nine chapters, plus an intro. I believe the author’s purpose is to inform the reader that joy is possible even in the darkest of times.
I loved the reference to using a tapestry. We may dwell on the underside, or messy side, of the tapestry but God looks at the right side which shows a magnificent story.
Although I am not Catholic and didn’t agree with everything, there is a lot of meat in A Gift of Joy and Hope. I give A Gift of Joy and Hope 4*/5*.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
The thesis of this book is that the light of joy can shine even in the darkest of times ~ hope is still possible for those who believe.
A Gift of Joy and Hope is organized into nine chapters, plus an intro. I believe the author’s purpose is to inform the reader that joy is possible even in the darkest of times.
I loved the reference to using a tapestry. We may dwell on the underside, or messy side, of the tapestry but God looks at the right side which shows a magnificent story.
Although I am not Catholic and didn’t agree with everything, there is a lot of meat in A Gift of Joy and Hope. I give A Gift of Joy and Hope 4*/5*.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
December 12, 2024
A Gift of Joy and Hope is a captivating read that explores the true meaning of joy and the search for hope.
This book is different from other non-fiction books that provide a detailed and extensive explanation of a topic. Instead, it's a collection of the Pope's thoughts and conversations concerning a particular subject. The number of paragraphs in each sub-topic ranges from one to three. Although it can be confusing to gather all the talks into the bigger picture, I actually found it enjoyable.
Most of the words feel like medicine to my soul. Even though it hurts, a good cry can bring me comfort. Reading this made me feel embraced by Jesus, strengthened, and reminded that I'm not alone, precious, and it's okay to weep sometimes. Even the Pope wrote a sub-topic titled The Value of Weeping, which is one of my favorites. I strongly agree with that. Learning to weep is necessary.
Because every subtitle is mostly short, I think it would serve best as a great source of inspiration or strength for the day if we read only one to three titles every day. Everything the Pope wrote here is valuable, and I have learned a lot from it. Highly recommended!
This book is different from other non-fiction books that provide a detailed and extensive explanation of a topic. Instead, it's a collection of the Pope's thoughts and conversations concerning a particular subject. The number of paragraphs in each sub-topic ranges from one to three. Although it can be confusing to gather all the talks into the bigger picture, I actually found it enjoyable.
Most of the words feel like medicine to my soul. Even though it hurts, a good cry can bring me comfort. Reading this made me feel embraced by Jesus, strengthened, and reminded that I'm not alone, precious, and it's okay to weep sometimes. Even the Pope wrote a sub-topic titled The Value of Weeping, which is one of my favorites. I strongly agree with that. Learning to weep is necessary.
Because every subtitle is mostly short, I think it would serve best as a great source of inspiration or strength for the day if we read only one to three titles every day. Everything the Pope wrote here is valuable, and I have learned a lot from it. Highly recommended!
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March 5, 2024“Chaplain! Have you need of a weapon? “
“Faith is my weapon!”
Brother I am pinned! The book is simply a collection of speeches, comments, homilies, or whatever else the ecclesiarchy feels free to label and express. How then do we proceed? The Codex Astartes will not guide me in this matter. I shall leave a book about joy and hope unrated. I shall also leave it unscathed. Does this mean I am unjoyful? Unhope? I am bold and foolish my friends.
The book shall operate as thus: select a random excerpt to dote on for a certain period of time. When satisfied move on. Rinse and repeat. I’ve a feeling this uses the pope as a mean to sell copies. Woe is me. I’m sure the messages will be wholly agreeable. I’ll update if I find anything. My mother must think I’m depressed or in need of virtue. Either way I shall endeavor to improve her opinion of me even if both could be true xD.
“Faith is my weapon!”
Brother I am pinned! The book is simply a collection of speeches, comments, homilies, or whatever else the ecclesiarchy feels free to label and express. How then do we proceed? The Codex Astartes will not guide me in this matter. I shall leave a book about joy and hope unrated. I shall also leave it unscathed. Does this mean I am unjoyful? Unhope? I am bold and foolish my friends.
The book shall operate as thus: select a random excerpt to dote on for a certain period of time. When satisfied move on. Rinse and repeat. I’ve a feeling this uses the pope as a mean to sell copies. Woe is me. I’m sure the messages will be wholly agreeable. I’ll update if I find anything. My mother must think I’m depressed or in need of virtue. Either way I shall endeavor to improve her opinion of me even if both could be true xD.
February 8, 2024
• “Human life, because of its eternal destination, retains all its value and dignity in any condition whatsoever, even if fragile and in peril, and as such is always worthy of the highest consideration.”
• “An encounter with God is grace.”
• “Saving oneself is a great temptation and spares no one, including us as Christians. It is the temptation to think only of saving ourselves and our circle, to focus on our problems and interests, as if nothing else mattered. It is a very human instinct, but a wrong one. This was the final temptation of the crucified God.”
• “Dear families, you know well that the true joy we experience within our families is not superficial; it does not come from material objects or from a life of comfort. True joy comes from profound harmony between people; it is something we feel within our hearts, something that helps us feel the beauty of being together, of helping each other along life’s path. But at the base of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the presence of God in our family, and His love, which I is welcoming, merciful, and respectful toward all.”
• “An encounter with God is grace.”
• “Saving oneself is a great temptation and spares no one, including us as Christians. It is the temptation to think only of saving ourselves and our circle, to focus on our problems and interests, as if nothing else mattered. It is a very human instinct, but a wrong one. This was the final temptation of the crucified God.”
• “Dear families, you know well that the true joy we experience within our families is not superficial; it does not come from material objects or from a life of comfort. True joy comes from profound harmony between people; it is something we feel within our hearts, something that helps us feel the beauty of being together, of helping each other along life’s path. But at the base of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the presence of God in our family, and His love, which I is welcoming, merciful, and respectful toward all.”
September 20, 2022
I am a Catholic, though not devout.
Still, when I had the opportunity to read Pope Francis' book I couldn't resist. He is the most encouraging and modern Pope. I looked forward to what would lay within these pages.
I also didn't know what I would get other than words of encouragement and inspiration to chase my faith. Which I got exactly that and yet I was still surprised.
I guess there was a naïve part of me that hoped for more personal accounts to connect the motivations to his life. How can you teach without also learning?
It was a good read, but one I know most may not partake in. They should though. Even if you are not religious. It can help in times of woe, need and just a general pick-me-up.
This is definitely a great book when you need a spiritual awakening.
2.5/5
Still, when I had the opportunity to read Pope Francis' book I couldn't resist. He is the most encouraging and modern Pope. I looked forward to what would lay within these pages.
I also didn't know what I would get other than words of encouragement and inspiration to chase my faith. Which I got exactly that and yet I was still surprised.
I guess there was a naïve part of me that hoped for more personal accounts to connect the motivations to his life. How can you teach without also learning?
It was a good read, but one I know most may not partake in. They should though. Even if you are not religious. It can help in times of woe, need and just a general pick-me-up.
This is definitely a great book when you need a spiritual awakening.
2.5/5
March 15, 2023
While Pope Francis is probably one of the most popular, the most loving, and the most liberal pope to date in our modern world and while I love his writings-I would say in reference to this book I never get the full picture from him. By that I just mean I don’t get the flow of his writing and I don’t see the picture in my head, he bounces around quite a bit and that could be due to the translations from Italian to English but he writes in sermons/sections rather than an overall chapter and just combines them all together to make a book.
For that reason I give this book 3 stars, but we’ll worth reading if you enjoy Francis and his works.
For that reason I give this book 3 stars, but we’ll worth reading if you enjoy Francis and his works.
October 6, 2022
While I may not share every aspect of belief with him, Pope Francis seems to be a very genuine human being in every way. I enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the various topics and agree with him on his greater vision and points. He's the kind of person I'd like to have lunch or tea with in the afternoon and in some ways that's what this book feels like, an afternoon of him discussing his thoughts, hopes and concerns with you, not as the Pope or head of the Catholic church, but as a friend just having a chat about worldly and spiritual matters of a more personal nature.
April 10, 2024
A Difficult Read
I always read a religious book during lent and always look for something that will help me on my lenten journey. This book by Pope Francis seemed perfect but I just couldn't get absorbed by it. The short paragraphs and constant snippets of quotes etc were a difficult read for me. I really wish I could recommend this but I won't read this again so can't recommend it.
I did like the interview at the end as an appendix.
I always read a religious book during lent and always look for something that will help me on my lenten journey. This book by Pope Francis seemed perfect but I just couldn't get absorbed by it. The short paragraphs and constant snippets of quotes etc were a difficult read for me. I really wish I could recommend this but I won't read this again so can't recommend it.
I did like the interview at the end as an appendix.
October 3, 2022
A beautiful, inspirational, and encouraging message from the mind and heart of Pope Francis to the world. His biggest message is of finding hope and joy everyday. This is a book that can be read over and over again. I thank Worthy Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful book.
March 16, 2023
A beautiful book on hope including chapters on the dream of beauty, why God is joyful, freedom from sadness and the gift of a smile. There is a very interesting interview at the end as well which shows Pope Francis is well aware of the challenges he faces, had no guarantee he will succeed but is doing the best he can. Very inspiring.
October 20, 2024
The writing was very accessible; I was able to read it on my commute to work. However, it was more of an invitation to find hope and joy than an instruction manual on how to find those virtues. Overall, I enjoyed it!
December 18, 2022
I loved this
January 6, 2023
It’s the Holy Father. He gets 5 stars.
February 4, 2023
Timeless wisdom. You could read this book over and over and always find something new to take away from it.
February 8, 2023
I would have loved to read this in the original Italian.
February 19, 2023
Really like how this is written with different topics for each chapter and short paragraphs within the chapters. It is nice to be able to pick up and read a paragraph to think about.
March 12, 2024
Insightful, inspiring, and encouraging. These words from Pope Francis will certainly make a lasting impression in anyone’s daily life. I appreciated also the prayers at the end of the book.
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