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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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My parents were farmers. I grew up working the land alongside them. Today marks the twentieth anniversary of my father's death — a man who sowed good seed in me long before I understood what that meant. Every farmer knows: good seed alone is not enough. The soil matters.
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My dear brothers and sisters, today's readings ask us one simple question: Is my heart still open to God? In the Gospel, Jesus says something that can sound puzzling: "To anyone who has, more will be given." He is not talking about money or success. He is talking about an open heart. The one who welcomes God's grace finds that grace keeps coming. The one who closes his heart slowly loses even the ability to recognize God's presence. The difference is never God's generosity — God gives freely to everyone. The difference is our receptivity.
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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.
One of Bruce Springsteen's most recognizable songs is Hungry Heart. The song tells the story of a man searching for happiness, belonging, and fulfillment. Beyond Bruces musical talent, it became popular because it touches something universal: every human being has a hungry heart. We all long for love, purpose, peace, and someone who truly knows us. The question is not whether we are hungry—but where we go to satisfy that hunger.
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We have all been blessed in many ways from the families that raised us and contributed to the people we have become now. One thing that is so dear to me apart from my family of origin, is the new family I joined forty years ago and that is the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is family that has nurtured my relationship with God. Don’t get me wrong we share our difficult moments and crises at times, but the Congregation of Holy Cross has been and still continues to be a place where I have experienced a relationship of trust, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, encouragement, support, strength and so many other qualities that bind people together in mutual love and unity. I am sure you can all give similar testimonies to different new families you belong to.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Every family has an unofficial courtroom. It is usually the kitchen. Someone asks, "Who finished the ice cream?" Immediately, four people become constitutional lawyers. One argues there was hardly any left. Another insists the container was already suspiciously light. A third claims not to like that flavor, although witnesses have seen otherwise. The final person says, "Why are we always blaming people in this family?" which is generally understood as a confession. Prophet Micah stages a courtroom too, but he calls unusual witnesses: the mountains and the age-old foundations of the earth. They have no opinions to protect and no grudges to settle. They simply stood there the whole time, watching.
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Catholic Family Fun | Summer Vacation | childhood memories | family life
Looking for practical tips for making summer travel memorable through connection, faith, flexibility, and realistic expectations? Catholic Mom writerShelly Henley Kelly has discovered several practical tips for meaningful family travel that foster connection, deepen faith, and embrace flexibility for unforgettable summer adventures. Summer lies just around the corner, and our family is no stranger to summer travel. We’ve turned work-related trips into mini-vacations, approached summer sports tournaments with the mindset of exploring new places, and even embarked on a multi-generational family trip overseas. In time, we’ve become more purposeful in seeking our faith and making our travel meaningful and memorable. We want trips that strengthen our family connection, deepen our faith, and include experiences everyone can enjoy. These are a few practical tips we’ve discovered over the years. Let us learn how to take a break, turn off the mobile phone to gaze into the eyes of others, cultivate silence, contemplate nature and regenerate ourselves in dialogue with God. (Pope Francis, Angelus 18 July 2021)
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