x Close
World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Elijah’s question from today’s first reading, “How long will you straddle the issue?” is a classic and ageless one! It reminds me of one evening at Symphony Hall in Boston, when I was out of earshot, my Mom asked our family friend, Fr. Bill Walsh, what he thought about my applying to the seminary. Without blinking an eye and with a smile, Fr. Walsh said, “I think God gave him a good kick in the pants and got him off the fence!” Whether it is in politics, family life, relationships—whether deciding about a friendship or a deeper commitment to marriage, priesthood or religious life—or in our moral and ethical lives, we’re all called to examine whether we are straddling issues or, as we'd say, where I come from: fence sitters.
Share
Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can say my little, office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire, and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flames”. There is also a quotation from John Piper which goes like this, "People don’t enjoy salt. They enjoy what is salted.” These two situations imply that it is not enough to live a pious life for ourselves, but we must strive to become a transformative power into people’s lives.
Share
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.
As Christians, we are called to a life of virtue, a life that runs against what soicety expects of us. We find those virtues in the Beatitudes. It is not easy, but it is fruitful. Even though it is often difficult, Christ invites us to live this life of virtue. Today's homily by Father Gasper Selvaraj, C.S.C. was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center today. You can watch the entire Mass on the Family Rosary Video streams channel on YouTube.
Share
Feast of the Sacred Heart | Sacred Heart enthronement | devotion to the Sacred Heart
This year, the Feast of the Sacred Heart falls on June 12, but on June 11, the United States of America will be Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the American Catholic Bishops. This great act is a powerful way to seek the Lord anew, as all the Bishops in the United States will pray this Consecration prayer in unity at their annual spring gathering in Orlando, FL. June 11 also marks 127 years since the world was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII. The world was struggling with the rise of secularism, political unrest, and attacks on the faith when the Holy Father decided to consecrate the world. Now, in honor of America 250, the United States being Consecrated is a reminder that every generation always needs Jesus and an invitation to return to the love, mercy, and kingship of Jesus.
Share
Cause for Canonization | Family Rosary | Father Patrick Peyton
How do you measure success in your family? Venerable Patrick Peyton wanted families to measure their success in prayer. His famous message, “The family that prays together, stays together!” Venerable Patrick Peyton was a priest with a mission that still inspires families today and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Share
Can you remember when your parents started going to their family and friends' 25th wedding anniversaries? Well, time has a way of flying by, and this past Sunday, my friends and I concelebrated our friend, Fr. Sean Connor’s 25th anniversary of ordination at Sacred Heart in Weymouth, MA. Before becoming a priest, Fr. Sean was a policeman, an imposing figure, who sometimes worked undercover. But in a letter to his family, friends, and parishioners, Fr. Sean shared a revealing and moving message.
Share
