World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Return to the Church | Strengthening family unity
St. Paul tackles two topics that many are afraid to talk about: holiness and purity. He begins by telling the Thessalonians that he and the others have taught them how to please God. That phrase, “… how to conduct yourself to please God,” is a great reminder that we find our meaning, direction, peace, and joy when we put pleasing God first and not ourselves or others first.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Love thy Neighbor
Mark’s Gospel account of what led to John the Baptist’s beheading is like an older version of some of our current entertainment. There’s the powerful man who commits adultery and incest by marrying his brother’s wife, who also happens to be his niece. Then there is John the Baptist, who not only calls Herod to repentance but also intrigues and perplexes him.
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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.
Some of you may remember a popular TV program in the 1980s called “Family Ties.” It starred a young Michael J. Fox. His character, Alex Keaton, was that of a son with very different economic and political views than his parents and sister. I loved the show because, in the end, despite their often-comical disagreements, their love for one another superseded the biggest challenge of their day.
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If I were to ask you who is the most powerful woman in the world today, you might be tempted to think about women who are political leaders, Fortune 500 executives, pop stars, etc. But the last words spoken by Father Peyton before he went home to God, “Mary, my Queen, my Mother,” provide us with the correct answer; it is Mary, Our Blessed Mother.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
Today’s readings are a great way to round out our weekday Masses. In the reading from the Book of Exodus, we have a recap from Moses of all God has done for the Israelites; everything from hearing the voice of God speaking from a fire to leading them out of slavery in Egypt to overcoming mightier nations so that they may have their own land. Moses reminds them so that they will fix and know in their heart that the Lord is God of heaven and earth and that there is no other.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Saint Lawrence was a deacon in the early Church in Rome. He was martyred for the faith four days after Pope Sixtus and six other deacons under the persecution of Emperor Valerian. St. Lawrence, when asked to turn over the Church’s money and valuables to the Emperor, gathered the poor and proclaimed that they were the Church’s real treasure.
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