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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
“Search Me O Lord and Try Me, Test My Soul and My Heart.” Today’s Saint, Junipero Serra certainly heard, prayed, and lived out this prayer. For he began his professional life as a Spanish university professor teaching philosophy, and after ordination to the priesthood, also taught theology. But despite his academic giftedness and successes, he felt called to become a missionary. This led to his being sent to the Apostolic College of San Fernando, Mexico City in 1749. Beginning the next year and for the following six years Father Junipero would oversee five missions to the Pame Indians in the Sierra Gorde mountains.
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Faith Reflection | Hope-2025 | Jubilee of Hope | power of prayer
Christian hope, to me, means placing all my trust for my future in God’s promises, even when my answered prayers come with a side of thorns. I learned this the hard way one summer afternoon in a friend’s backyard, chasing a birdie with all the enthusiasm of an Olympic athlete—minus the grace. My foot slipped, and I crashed spectacularly into her mother’s prized rosebush. While my friend stifled laughter, I looked toward heaven with a sigh and a sarcastic, “Seriously, God?” Five days before, I began a prayer to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux for three special intentions. Three things I thought at the age of fifteen would make my life complete: a boyfriend, a job, and a car. The holy trifecta of early adulthood. It all started a few weeks earlier. During a conversation with my mother, I was lamenting my lack of all three. Her advice was surprisingly simple: “Why don’t you pray for them? It couldn’t hurt.” This was coming from a woman I had never seen pray. We were, at best, Christmas-and-Easter Catholics. My memory of prayer with my family when I was growing up was an occasional, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” or a Rosary during thunderstorms. But desperate times call for divine interventions, so I decided to try.
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Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
During World War II, a small team of British cryptanalysts worked day and night to decode the German military’s encrypted messages. Most people have heard of Alan Turing. But fewer know that Turing once brought in a young mathematician named Joan Clarke, brilliant, reserved, and not officially part of the war cabinet. When someone asked Turing why he shared classified details with someone not “on the list,” he reportedly answered, “Because some minds are not just clever, they are trustworthy.”
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Catholic Family Fun | parenting hacks | summer activities
Are you ready for summer? Honestly, this is a question for all of us: parents with school-aged children, teachers, empty-nesters, grandparents, and all those who look forward to beach weather. June is month number 6, the middle of the year. I think it is a good time to access and plan for the summer or even the rest of the year. For many of us, summer is a time to slow down a bit and enjoy more leisure time. Before we get to the fun though, take some time to process your life before moving forward. Are you ready?
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Rosary Stories | Through the Mysteries Podcast | family prayer
In this episode of Family Rosary's new podcast, hosts Father David Marcham, Stephen Driscoll, and Allison Gingras continue reflecting on how the Mysteries of the Rosary can be experienced in the ordinary of each day! Father Marcham then unpacks the scriptural origins of the Hail Mary, where the Church has added its petition, and why. Followed by a fascinating discussion on why the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘full of grace’ and what that truly means for each of us. The trio also dives deeper into the meaning of grace, the undeserved yet freely given gift of God's Holy Spirit, and why that is so important to our lives. Their discussion then turns to Mary being more than just a fragile porcelain statue. She is alive in Heaven, a powerful advocate for us, and a model of strength and humility. Wrapping the episode, as they always do, with a Rosary Story, this one is from Maria Gallagher, a long-time Catholic Mom contributor. Don't miss this Marian-focused episode that is sure to inspire, entertain, and encourage! Click the play button below or visit your favorite podcast platform to listen to episode 9:
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Feast of the Sacred Heart | Learn more about our faith
Last week, I had the joy of accompanying a wonderful group on a pilgrimage to Montreal and Quebec, Canada and one of our stops was the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec. Nestled along the St. Lawrence River, this shrine has welcomed pilgrims for over 350 years. Miracles have unfolded there, crutches left behind, burdens laid down, faith renewed. But for me, the most unexpected grace came not in the grand basilica, but in the crypt church, in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At first glance, it was like any other statue until I noticed something peculiar. A kneeler was placed not directly in front of the statue but awkwardly off to the side, toward Jesus’ right. Our guide encouraged us to kneel there and look at the face of Jesus. I did, and some of us did, too. And what I saw caught me off guard.
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