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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
May | Pentecost | family prayer
Pentecost, arriving in one of the busiest times of year, brings relief and perspective to Kathryn Pasker Ineck. Ah, June. June is a balm after the craziness of May, a month that can be a wild ride, whether you have schoolchildren or not, because there is always such a flurry of activities to attend. Years ago, my friends and I referred to it as “Maycember” because, like Advent, May arrives with an overfilled calendar of good things: dance recitals, class parties, tournaments, graduations (for all the stages — kindergarten, eighth grade, high school, college), and [insert excuse to celebrate]. With better weather and theoretically free-er weekdays, suddenly weddings, barbeques, park days, and hikes are on the docket. “Quick! Let’s get together before all the swim lessons start and the vacations separate us!”
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Catholic Family Fun | Children's Stories | pray the rosary
Lindsey Mitzel reviews a children’s book of meditations on the Rosary written by Dominique Morelli and illustrated by Anna Morelli. The Illustrated Rosary: The Life of Christ in Prose By Dominique Morelli; illustrated by Anna Morelli Published by Diocesan The Illustrated Rosary: The Life of Christ in Prose is a beautiful Rosary meditation book for kids. Written by Dominique Morelli and illustrated by Anna Morelli, this Rosary guide, written especially for kids, is lyrical, whimsical, and thought-provoking.
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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.
May 1st, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Joseph was a carpenter, and Jesus would have learned from Joseph’s hands the trade and tools of the carpenter. The tradition, and what we assume from the Scriptures, is that up to the age of thirty Jesus worked as a carpenter. If you happen to see The Passion of Christ, by Mel Gibson, there are some moving scenes during Jesus’ Passion, as he carries the cross, with flashbacks of Jesus making a table and showing it to Mother Mary. That would have been the way Jesus supported himself. I often reflect on the fact that Mother Mary received a visitation from the angel Gabriel, while Joseph only received a dream. All of us dream every night, but Joseph was able to discern that this was not just an ordinary dream, that God was speaking to him on a deeper level. He was called to trust the words of his wife, that something which had never happened in the history of the world, a virgin conceiving, was true.
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Family Fun | Family Activities | Marian devotion
Shelly Henley Kelly shares a how-to guide for families and friends who want to host a May Crowning at home. There’s something deeply beautiful about honoring Our Blessed Mother in the month of May. For generations, Catholics have celebrated May Crownings in parishes and schools, but this tradition can be just as meaningful when brought into the home. Growing up, Judy always wanted to be the girl chosen to crown the statue of Mary in her school’s May Crowning celebrations. She never was. But the happy childhood memories of singing Marian hymns and processing with flowers stayed with her for many years. So, when she saw the parish bulletin announcing a preschool May Crowning, it inspired her to host her own May Crowning at home with friends. What are you waiting for? Need ideas on how? Read on...
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In real social phenomena, there exist some kind of classes that define who we are or what we do. This status deploys certain responsibilities in us. In the division of these responsibilities comes seniors, bosses, employees or lords and subjects. Some may not have search names, however, there exists a life/social distinctive feature. If we look at this with a keen eye, it sounds awkward and even sometimes unexpected for ‘Lord’ to serve the subjects or even bosses to serve the juniors. And even due to such, those beneath us feel unworthy for such services towards them. For those in higher status or privileges which are even gifts or endowed duly by God’s blessings require a higher degree of humility and empathy to come down and serve those lower to them due certain social, economic, spiritual or political factors or any other form of factor that depreciates them. This does not diminish who we are. It does not make us less. Indeed, it uplifts us to true human nature. This is why in the gospel Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, and this does not make him lower. It makes him a true servant. A true leader. A good father or mother in a family lead by example.
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God implanted in our human nature a desire to love and to be loved. When we are accepted by others, we have the assurance that we are lovable. The desire for acceptance is so great that any sort of rejection causes us much pain.
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