THINK HOPE Foundation

05/27/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration
HOPE begins with thoughts…

Maria wrote in her journal July 2018,
about 6 months before her diagnosis:

“I spend too much time focusing on me: how I feel, how other people view me, etc. The main one is how I am concerned with how I am viewed by others. I want them to view me as a good, young woman who is authentic and filled with character.

What I am finding out is that it’s impossible to truly have those characteristics when the focus is on yourself. So, by truly and sincerely caring about others over yourself, one can achieve those good qualities and others will be drawn to that.”
Maria Middleton
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“You are God’s children whom He loves, so try to be like Him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
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“If there are poor among you, in one of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be selfish or greedy toward them. But give freely to them, and freely lend them whatever they need.”
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
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“We descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility.”
St. Benedict of Nursia
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“Think Hope”

05/25/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration
HOPE begins with thoughts…

At age 12, in the summer of 2015, Maria reflected on the Blessed Mother after reading in the book “33 Days to Morning Glory”.

Maria Wrote:

“We should give everything to Mary because she gave everything to God.

That’s because she was asked to be the mother of God.

Sometimes it isn’t so easy to know what God wants of us. And if He did ask me to be His mother, I hope I’d say, yes.

But what He is asking of us is our talents. To use our talents to give back what is His.”

Maria Middleton

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“In her, (Mary) the destinies of the world were to be reversed, and the serpent’s head bruised. In her was bestowed the greatest honor ever out upon any individual of our fallen race. God was taking upon Him her flesh, and humbling Himself to be called her offspring - such is the deep mystery!"
John Henry Cardinal Newman

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“The knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. The knot which the virgin Eve tied by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary opened by her belief.”
St. Irenaeus of Lyons

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“As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so Christians are guided to Heaven by Mary.”
St. Thomas Aquinas

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“Think Hope”

05/04/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…

6 months before her diagnosis, Maria wrote in her journal ……

“The slight unhappiness that sometimes I may feel comes from analyzing and judging others. When I was little, I was usually unaware of what others did but today, as a teenager, it’s a constant thought to analyze other people and their actions. I do this to family members, people in school, friends, and even though it’s healthy to be aware of the people around you and their actions, it does not need to be a constant use of energy in my life.”

Maria Middleton
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“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
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“You ask me whether I am in good spirits. How could I not be so? As long as faith gives me strength, I will always be joyful.”
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati
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“Dismiss all anger and look into yourself a little. Remember that he of whom you are speaking is your brother, and as he is in the way of salvation, God can make him a saint, in spite of his present weakness.”
St. Thomas of Villanova

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“Think Hope”

04/30/2026

PLEASE SUPPORT HOPE-A-THON!

The big day is tomorrow to bring Hope through Maria and the various ministries that educate in hope, restore hope and build hope ~ one per son at a time. "Think hope!"

If you want to make an individual donation you can use this link to find “Three Ways to Donate”
https://www.vjmhs.org/events/hope

04/11/2026

We’re honored to share that Think Hope: Maria Middleton’s Life of Unyielding Trust in God has been named a Finalist for Biography in the 2026 Excellence in Publishing Awards by the Association of Catholic Publishers.

Among this year’s nominees, Ascension was the most recognized publisher—an incredible testament to its mission of forming faith through meaningful content.

For us, this recognition is about something greater than a book.

It is about the life and legacy of our daughter.

Maria’s story is a witness to what it means to trust God in the midst of suffering—to hold fast to faith, identity, purpose and hope when everything else is uncertain.

From one of her first journal entries, “God is merciful,” to her last , “Think Hope,” she leaves us with a message the world desperately needs:

Hope is not a feeling. It is a decision.

We are grateful to see her witness continue to reach hearts—and to remind us all that even in suffering, there is meaning, and there is hope.

Our thanks to our co author Ron Watson and the entire staff at Ascension Press

Brian & Susan Middleton

Ascension Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist Villa Joseph Marie High School

04/02/2026

The 7th Sorrow of Mary Reflection

In Maria’s Own Words~Words of Inspiration HOPE begins with thoughts…

THE BURIAL OF JESUS (John 38)

Hail Mary……

“Mary, you just did what every mother dreads to do, bury their own child.

Some people might have said that it was the end of Jesus’s time on earth, but in your heart you know that it was only the beginning.

May I look up to you in times of despair and remember to have Hope and Faith in God’s plan.” Maria Middleton

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“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13
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“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21
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“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26


Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA

03/26/2026

The 6th Sorrow of Mary - taken from Maria’s Reflections on the Seven Sorrows of Mary at age 14

In Maria’s Own Words ~ Words of Inspiration HOPE begins in the heart…

The Sixth Sorrow of Mary

6. TAKING JESUS DOWN FROM THE CROSS (John 19-38)

Hail Mary……

“Mary, how hard it must’ve been to watch the removal of your Son’s co**se. I’m sure a part of you denied that He was dead, maybe you second-guessed that you could have done something to prevent this from happening, but as hard as it may be, you forgave the persecutors, accept the truth and continued to trust in God.

Help me to always remember, that sometimes, God’s Will isn’t in unity with our will, so I must always have trust in God.”
Maria Middleton
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“ Do not surrender your confidence; it will have great reward. You need patience to do God’s Will and receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36
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“My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Thy Word.”
Psalm 119:38
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“Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to
satisfy the heart? ”
-Saint Gerard
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“I will attempt day by day to break my will into pieces. I want to do God’s Holy Will, not my own. ”
-Saint Gabriel Possenti

03/14/2026

The message of Think Hope continues to reach hearts around the world.

During a recent visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Bucks County Pennsylvania, the President and First Lady of Poland were presented with a copy of Think Hope, sharing Maria’s powerful witness of faith and hope.

Read more about this special moment below.

Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA
Ascension

Presentation of "Think Hope" underscores enduring faith during historic presidential visit. [Exton, PA - September 21, 2025] His Excellency Karol Nawrocki, President of the Republic of Poland, and First Lady Mrs. Marta Nawrocka visited the National Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa, in Doylestown, ...