World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
In today’s Gospel, we find a powerful snapshot of the Christian life. Jesus enters a home filled with worry. Peter’s mother-in-law is sick, burning with fever. Without hesitation, without conditions, Jesus goes to her, rebukes the fever, and heals her. Her response is immediate and beautiful: she gets up and serves them.
Share
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Every week on a Monday I visit Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton or what is now known as Boston Medicals South. The hospital chaplain once in our conversation told me something striking. He said, “You can always tell when a great experienced doctor has walked into the room. It’s not just the white coat, it’s the atmosphere. Patients sit up straighter, nurses move with more confidence, and even the families waiting outside breathe easier. It’s not that the illness disappears instantly. It’s that the presence of authority that changes the air.”
Share
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.
Praying with images | Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary | family prayer | pray the rosary
Artful depictions of Christ's life, especially His Passion and Death, offer families a unique opportunity to engage in discussions of faith that can often be difficult to begin. From the youngest member of one's family to the oldest, everyone can look upon the beauty of art and share what they see and how it makes them feel. Visio Divina, or "sacred seeing," is an ancient form of Christian prayer that utilizes the imagination to enter into prayer. Visio Divina is an effective method of praying for families looking to begin or deepen a practice of family prayer in their homes. We recommend starting your time with these images, calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion. Your prayer can be as simple as, "Come, Holy Spirit," or you may wish to recite or write a longer one, such as: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. This collection of images of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary includes short reflections with each picture to illustrate the variety of ways sacred art can be viewed and discussed. We pray your family is truly blessed by your time together immersed in the beauty of the art, these words, and your precious time with each other.
Share
Labor | Parenting | catholic family life | family prayer
In St. Benedict’s rule for living monastic life, Debra Black finds many pearls of wisdom for living in our domestic church. Whatever good work thou dost begin, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect. (Rule of St. Benedict, preface, p. 3, 5) How the Catholic Home Should Run I was in a Catholic bookstore several decades back when a man pointed to the book of St. Benedict’s Rule and said to me, “This is how every home should be run.” Intrigued, I bought the book. Back then we didn’t hear about our home being the domestic church, but the saints do teach us to turn our heart and mind to God as we go through the day. A life which melds prayer and work sounds inviting, even dreamy! Then the reality of the daily grind sets in, and it seems like everyone needs a piece of you, leaving little to nothing of your heart to give to God.
Share
Father Patrick Peyton | Jim Caviezel | Rosary Priest | rosary rally
There are moments in life we never forget—encounters with people who leave an indelible impression on us. These people are often none other than the saints. When Charles Dickens met Saint Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, he remarked: “There is in this woman something so calm, and so holy, that in seeing her I know myself to be in the presence of a superior being. Her words went straight to my heart, so that my eyes, I know not how, filled with tears.”1 My mother’s cousin experienced something similar when he met St. Teresa of Calcutta on a U.S. Army base in Japan during the 1980s. Almost backing out at the last minute, he went anyway and was forever changed. As he shared with me: “Mother Teresa, who is very small, maybe 4’11” on her tiptoes, took my hand with both of her weather-beaten, gnarled fingers. She looked straight into my eyes—and I must admit, into my soul—and said, ‘Colonel, I am so happy that you decided to come tonight.’ It was like being struck by a sledgehammer. At that moment, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me it was God speaking to my heart through Mother Teresa.” Like Padre Pio and so many saints, Mother Teresa had the gift of seeing into souls and touching hearts with God’s presence. Some saints had the gift of prophecy, foretelling future events and missions. Jim Caviezel and Venerable Patrick Peyton
Share
Family Rosary | PRAY | Venerable Patrick Peyton | how to pray the rosary
Megan Harrington describes her family's devotion to the Rosary, which she appreciated in a new way after working on the documentary of Father Patrick Peyton's life: PRAY. Growing up, my parents made us — it was not a choice or an option — be in the kitchen at 7 am before school to pray the Rosary. They believed in its promises and the power of prayer. Gathering a herd of 11 children is not an easy task, especially in the morning. I’d like to tell you that their example launched me into the daily practice from the time I was a small girl until today, but unfortunately, it didn’t. The seed was planted, however, and I would be reminded of its effectiveness many times throughout my life. I am forever grateful to my parents, who were the first witnesses of the faith.
Share