As we thank God for taking us through 2020, we look forward with hope for 2021. Despite trying times for many of us, we can thank God for the blessings of 2020 - loved ones and family who gave us hope and support. And we can thank God for the love and spiritual growth that occurs as we navigate through these challenging times.
As we look forward to 2021, let us set some goals to keep in mind. What do we really want to accomplish this year? One possibility is to begin to build your family home into a fully alive domestic church.
How do you do this?
As 2021 begins, I invite you to focus on prayer in the Family for the coming 30 days.
God wants our families to be prayerful. Why? Because prayer is the most powerful force in heaven and on earth. Prayer changes things.
Venerable Peyton said, “If families give Our Lady 15 minutes a day by reciting the Rosary, I assure them that their homes will become, by God's grace, peaceful places.”
Let us make a clear choice to pray as a Family at specific time every day. First, create a "prayer corner" in the home if you do not have one. Along with the Bible, Rosaries, and prayer books, and you can even place a statue or a pictures of saints, and light a candle during prayer time.
My favorite time for payer is before dinner. Many families find dinner time good, some before and some after. Other families find bedtime for young children to be best. Whatever time you choose, each member should make a point of being present for family prayer. Of course, this gets difficult as children grow older and have more activities outside the home. However, if they learn the value of praying with their family when they are little, they will want to continue, especially, as naturally happens, their challenges navigating life, work, and relationships increase.
When we pray together at a specific time of day, we are more likely to integrate prayer into every aspect of family life - somehow everything the Family does becomes prayerful. Your home will be filled with God’s love, and before you know it, your Family will be fully alive as a Domestic Church.
Let us begin each day with God to be at our best and live each day fully, giving the best we have for God and others. Our end goal is eternal life with God. So remember that goal, and make time for prayer with your family to build a loving Domestic Church in your home.
Happy New Year 2021!
- Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EST, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
.jpg "Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.")