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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
We Christians in the 21st century have had to endure over 400 years of the debates between Protestants and Catholics, in particular the debates over faith and good works. And, as is often the case in these types of ongoing confrontations, I think we have allowed ourselves to be forced into hardened positions where we buy into characterizations that we shouldn’t actually believe. In particular, when you listen to these Protestant and Catholic arguments over faith and good works, both sides seem to depict faith as a mostly internal, almost intellectual state, a mental adherence to a set of doctrines.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus’ sharp rebuke of the “lawyers” – the teachers of the law – who took away the key of knowledge; by not entering into it themselves, and so they hindered those who were entering into it. This warning was not just for their time, but rather it speaks directly to every community that claims to be a “church of the Word.” Jesus’ words expose a potential pitfall: those entrusted with authority whether in the Church or in our families, sometimes become solely gatekeepers rather than guides to Jesus and His Gospel message.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Today the church celebrates the Memorial of St Teresa of Avila or Teresa of the Child Jesus. Saint Terresa lived in the 16th century. Together with St. John of the Cross, they made reforms on the Congregation of Carmelite friars and nuns. In one of her famous works of contemplation, “The Way of Perfection,” a practical guide on how to achieve spiritual growth, she mentions three things that inform this short homily or reflection. She talks of three essential virtues for a prayer filled life: Fraternal love: she implores us to nurture a deep and sincere love for one’ s community Detachment from worldly desires and affections. Humility: that helps us to understand our faults, imperfections and recognizing that all good comes from God.
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
I have read about a blackout that took place on July 13, 1977 and it affected most of New York City. It was triggered when a lightning strike hit a substation near the Hudson River, initiating a cascade of failures in the power grid. The blackout lasted more than 24 hours in many places, with full restoration stretching into the next day. What makes this blackout unique in memory is that, because the moon was only a thin crescent that night, the skies were unusually dark. That allowed even city dwellers, under heavy light pollution, to see deep-sky objects, Stars, constellations, and those who had access to a telescope they could see the Milky Way and other celestial details which were rarely visible from midtown Manhattan otherwise.
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Catholic Motherhood | catholic family life | praying the Rosary
Catholic Mom contributor Liesl Schiavone reflects on the brokenness of our world and how mothers can proceed. It’s no secret that the events of the last few weeks have left people rattled, restless, and frustrated. We’re desperately trying to make sense of this profoundly broken world. The news feels like an endless cycle of tragedy — another day, another tragedy, another reminder of suffering. Indeed, we’ve all had a lot of thoughts swirling through our minds. How did we get here? How can we mend the brokenness? How can we heal? As a mother, I want to ensure that this rot and decay never touch the lives of my children. I want to be able to tell them that they’ll always be safe, free, and valued. That courage is admirable, but they won’t need it. But God never promised us that kind of assurance. No, He said: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)
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Catholic Motherhood | My Rosary Story | peace | pray the rosary
When a friend suggested adding the Rosary to her day, Laura Vazquez Santos found a spiritual lifeline. My mornings used to begin with noise (well, they kind of still do, but the ensuing panic that normally followed has since been calmed). It was not just the noise of children — though that was part of it — but the noise of worry, to-do lists, and self-criticism. I’d scroll through my phone, gulp down coffee, and start the day already anxious. Then a friend challenged me to pray the Rosary daily. “I don’t have time,” I laughed (and, I admit at this time, I wasn’t fostering time in prayer or my faith as seriously as I should have). But something about her calm, peaceful demeanor stuck with me. I thought to myself ... well, I guess I have already tried mindfulness practices and other ‘techniques’ to keep my anxiety at bay before, so why not prayer?
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