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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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There’s something powerful about discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. I once heard a story of a man who moved to a new town and visited a nearby church. While admiring the beautiful stained-glass windows, he noticed an unusual phrase. One of the windows bore the words: “Glory to God in the Highest.” But the letter "E" in “Highest” was missing, leaving the phrase to read: “Glory to God in the High St!” This unexpected twist made him pause and reflect. High Street was the name of the street where he lived. He realized this was a message for him—he was being called to glorify God, not somewhere far away, but in his own neighborhood, on High Street, in the small, daily acts of his life.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
The Nicene Creed, which we pronounce on Sundays during the Mass or on other solemnities, is also called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. This Creed is a deep and powerful statement of Christian faith. It is accepted by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Protestant churches. This Creed was created and adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The council wasn’t just a gathering of scholars debating theology; it was a holy assembly of people who had suffered greatly for their faith. Many of the approximately 318 bishops present bore the marks of intense persecution—missing eyes, maimed hands, or limping from injuries inflicted during the reigns of emperors Diocletian and Maximian. These visible scars led Theodoret, an ancient writer, to describe the council as “an assembled living army of martyrs.”
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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.
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
One stormy night, a young newlywed couple found themselves stranded on a remote country road due to fallen trees. With no way to continue their journey, they spotted a dimly lit farmhouse and decided to seek help. An elderly couple holding a kerosene lamp greeted them at the door. Explaining their predicament, the young man humbly asked, “Could we spend the night here? A spot on the floor or an easy chair would be enough.” The elderly woman smiled kindly and said, “Why surely, children. We happen to have a spare bedroom.” Grateful and relieved, the young couple retired for the night. Early the next morning, they quietly dressed, left $200 on the dresser, and tiptoed downstairs, careful not to disturb their hosts. But as they opened the door to leave, they were startled to see the elderly couple asleep in the living room chairs. Only then did they realize the “spare bedroom” had been their hosts’ only bedroom.
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Learn more about our faith | Strengthening family unity
A family of four embarked on a ten-day cruise, carrying with them a staggering 13 bags. As they prepared to board the ship, the absent-minded husband suddenly exclaimed, “I forgot to bring the white bag from the main table!” Annoyed by the abundance of luggage, his wife retorted, “Thirteen bags are already more than enough! Why do you need another one?”
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Shouting is one of the most instinctive ways we express ourselves—to get someone's attention, share our excitement, or demand action. We shout warnings like, "Watch out!" or cheer joyfully when our team scores, "Yes!" It's natural, spontaneous, and often uncontrollable. Think about those moments when you're at a wedding and hear, "I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jones!" The joy bubbles over, and you can't help but clap and cheer. Or the bittersweet tension of holding back a shout when your child's name is called at a graduation ceremony, and everyone has been asked to keep silent until the end.
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Birds are generally nice to look at. Whether they are flying or perched on a branch, most birds look beautiful. Except one species – the vulture. These scavengers, with their scruffy, hunched appearance and their diet of decay, seem to embody darkness and death. Vultures don’t hunt; they gather where there is death.
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