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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
“You are under CCTV surveillance!” This is a notice we increasingly encounter today. Institutions, offices, public places—almost everywhere—is scanned by CCTV cameras. The purpose is clear: to capture every movement, identify mischief, trace mishaps, and deter harmful actions. Though CCTV is a modern technological marvel, humanity has had its own "human version" of surveillance long before its invention. Today’s Gospel offers proof of this.
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Catholic Motherhood | Faith Life | Saint Monica
Saint Monica was a mother who prayed with such patient tenacity that we are still admiring her motherhood over 1500 years later. She prayed for some fifteen years for her son (Saint) Augustine and even longer for her husband and mother-in-law. All three came into the Church before their deaths. Of her three children, Saint Monica worried the most about Augustine. When Augustine left his mother in search of truth among philosophies far from her devout Christian faith, she never ceased to weep and to pray until her son gladdened her heart with his conversion to ardent faith and became one of the princes among the Church’s theologians. (Magnificat August 2024, p. 381) As we know, Augustine became a great saint and a Doctor of the Church. His mother’s prayers were answered most generously. God is good.
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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.
Catholic Mass | Eucharist | family prayer
We thank God for many, many things over the course of a Mass, but it is this line during the Eucharistic Prayer that sticks out to me every time: "Thank you for counting us worthy to be in your Presence and minister to you.” As with many spiritual realities, this statement of faith causes my expectations to do multiple somersaults in my soul. God counts us worthy? Are we truly in God’s presence? We get the unbelievable privilege of ministering to/serving God, especially as He is ministering to us in the Mass.
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Praying with images | Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty lifts the soul, especially when combined with prayer. A grand vista or intricate work of art can be transformative, evoking deep feelings and thoughts. A majestic waterfall or a detailed painting reminds us of God’s magnificence and the care He put into the world. Art communicates ideas and stories, especially in matters of faith, when literacy was less common, leading to a vast collection of religious art. Since the early Church, Christians have used art to share the Good News and tell Christ’s story. Frescoes, paintings, and other traditional art forms were common. As time passed, artists explored various styles and mediums, resulting in the creation of new art forms. Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days, but it became a staple in the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries. These cathedrals, decorated with beautiful stained glass, brought light and color, instructing the faithful in a simple, engaging, and beautiful way.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
A wealthy man was once seen driving his luxurious Lamborghini through a bustling city. As he stopped to park, a curious passerby exclaimed, “Wow, such an expensive car! But did you notice your rear windows are broken?” The man smiled and replied, “Yes, they’re broken for a reason—they remind me of God’s Providential Love.” Perplexed, the passerby asked, “Broken windows… God’s love? How?” The man began, “One day, I was speeding through these very streets when I heard a loud crash. A stone had struck my car. Furious, I stopped and saw a ragged boy, the culprit, standing nearby. My anger boiled as I approached him, but before I could say a word, he fell to his knees, hands clasped, tears streaming down his face.
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Venerable Patrick Peyton | family prayer | rosary novena
The annual Family Rosary Novena for Family Unity and Peace Celebrating Venerable Patrick Peyton’s Anniversary of Birth has been an incredible blessing for many these past nine days. Are you just discovering it today? You have not missed out! Day One can be found here. It is never too late to pray for and with your family! Families face many challenges, and navigating daily life requires consistent prayer. Participating in the Rosary as a family is a valuable tradition. We believe that taking part in this Rosary Novena is a wonderful way to start the new year and establish a routine of daily prayer. Please be assured of our daily prayers for you. Do you have specific prayer intentions? Please visit our World at Prayer website to submit your prayer requests to be included in our weekday 11:30 a.m. ET live-streamed Rosary. Keep a copy of our free, downloadable Rosary Novena booklet, which includes all the Rosary and Novena prayers and instructions, handy to pray throughout the year. Family Rosary is dedicated every day to inspiring, promoting, and fostering the spiritual well-being of families throughout the world—including yours! Read on for today's reflection and prayers.
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