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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Marian devotion | Mary Undoer of Knots | power of prayer
Three years ago, I went on a retreat with the women at our parish. In our retreat bag, I discovered a brochure detailing devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. I was unfamiliar with this title of Mary and discovered that the late Pope Francis promoted this devotion. Praying to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots A little while later, my husband and I were going through a difficult period in our marriage. Not sure where else to turn, I remembered the devotion and began to pray the prayer printed on the brochure: Virgin Mary, Mother who never refuses to come to the help of your children in need, Mother whose hands never stop working for the welfare of your children, moved as they are by the loving mercy and kindness that exists in your Immaculate heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. Oh Mother! You know the difficulties, sorrow, and pain that I’ve had because of them. O loving Mother, I place the ribbon of my life and this knot (mention request here) into your loving hands, hands which can undo even the most difficult knot. Most holy Mother, come to my aid and intercede for me before God with your prayers. I cast this knot into your hands (mention request again) and bed you to undo it, in the name of your son, Jesus, Christ, and for the glory of God, once and for all. Our Lady Undoer of Knots, pray for us!
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Learn more about our faith | Love thy Neighbor
Speaking about slavery is considered a hot-button issue given the complex global history that we all know about. Without implying in any way that slavery is morally right under any circumstances, the fact of the matter is that slavery has been practiced in many human societies around the world. It is a sad part of human history around the world and a reality of human brokenness.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
After receiving my First Holy Communion, I was absolutely certain about one thing: I wanted to be an altar server. Not just any altar server, this was the Syro-Malabar rite, where serving at the altar isn’t just about lighting candles, ringing bells and wearing a cassock. No. It’s a full-on liturgical performance. We chant responses, recite prayers loudly, and lead the congregation through a liturgy that’s as beautiful as it is long. The altar server is also a lector, a cantor, a leader of the people in prayer. They lead chants, offer liturgical exhortations, lead penitential rites and sometimes feel like junior deacons-in-training!
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes and his fellow martyr companions. St. Christopher was born in Mexico, and after ordination to the priesthood worked with the poor and indigenous people, most notably founding schools and forming agrarian cooperatives. He lived in a time when the Mexican government was strongly anti-Catholic and closed all seminaries. He repeatedly sought to have them reopened. For his good works, he was falsely charged with promoting armed rebellion and was arrested on his way to celebrate Mass on this date in 1927. Four days later, he was executed along with 21 other diocesan priests and three laymen. St. Christopher is a patron saint of Mexico and a symbol of resistance against religious oppression. He is an example of being willing to give courageous witness to Christ despite worldly challenges.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
At the Last Supper, Jesus says something astonishing: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” In the face of betrayal and death, Jesus offers peace—not as a farewell, but as a gift. This peace isn’t emotional calm or worldly comfort. It is, as the Navarre Commentary says, a divine assurance rooted in reconciliation with God and with one another—a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is serenity of mind, simplicity of heart, and union in charity.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
My cousin and I went searching for a waterfall during a hike. We heard it was a few miles inside the forest, and we nearly got lost looking for it. Our cell phones had no signal, the trail marks vanished, and panic set in until we spotted a weathered wooden signpost half-buried in leaves. Its arrow pointed decisively toward a river, and scribbled on it were the words, “Keep going. The view is worth it.” That signpost didn’t care if we thanked it, admired its craftsmanship, or took a selfie with it. It existed for one purpose: to point beyond itself to something greater. This mirrors the story of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. After healing a paralyzed man, the crowd erupted, convinced the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes had descended. But the apostles didn’t bask in the adoration. They tore their clothes in distress, crying, “Why are you doing this? We’re just signposts, ordinary humans pointing you to the living God!” (Acts 14:15). The people there weren’t evil; they were spiritually disoriented. Their myths told of gods visiting in disguise, so they defaulted to familiar explanations. Yet Paul and Barnabas knew accepting worship wouldn’t just be arrogant, it would obscure their path to God. Instead, they used their moment of fame to redirect glory: “Turn from these empty things to the living God!”
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