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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
Sometimes, in difficult life situations, we go searching for a saint, but sometimes, a saint comes searching for us. Several years ago, my daughter was going through some severe trauma that had a huge impact on my own heart. Only three weeks into the struggle, we were still in a state of shock and steeped deep in survival mode where even breathing felt like it took a lot of work. I couldn't figure out how to stop the pain in order to try and find some path of healing I wasn't sure even existed. As I dragged myself out of bed to head to daily Mass to continue begging God for help, I felt a nudge to invite my daughter to come with me. It turns out that on that particular morning, God was orchestrating a divine appointment. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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The explanation of Luke's Gospel on the driving out of demons from the man who was mute is rather complex. Jesus is making the point that Satan has his realm where he is active and strong, but someone stronger than him has come along. Of course, it is the Lord himself who announces the breaking in of the Kingdom of God. This Gospel reminded me of a remarkable story I read by a Harvard Professor and observant Jew, Roy Schoeman. This is one of the most remarkable witnesses I have ever encountered, and I want to share it with you today. Professor Schoeman writes, "During the spring of 1987, I took a few days off from work and went to Cape Cod to spend time communing with nature. I was walking in the early morning, in the woods just back from the beach, when God intervened, dramatically and distinctly, into my life to pull me back and put me onto the right path. As I was walking, lost in my thoughts, I found myself in the immediate presence of God.
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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.
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 Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
Bees are more honored than other animals, not because they labor so hard, but because they labor for others. (Patricia Banker) Names are important. What we refer to as a “first name” is actually our given name, the second gift given to us by our parents (the first gift was their openness to life). Yet I never cared for my name in grade school. There were too many Debbies. I was around age 10 when I read a newspaper article on naming babies. It said that the most common names chosen between 1959 and 1961 were Mike and Debbie. My brother Mike was born in 1959 and I was born in 1961. I told my parents, “Thanks for being so original!!” During those years, the Hallmark card shops sold these pretty laminated cards for each name with its meaning on the reverse side. For Debra, the cards always said either busy bee or honeybee. How LAME! Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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We live in a time where remembering is harder than ever. Our attention spans are shrinking faster than the lifespan of an Instagram story. We have passwords we can’t remember (I now have started keeping a word document for my passwords alone; and that document is password protected too, and I have difficulty remembering that password!), phones and keys we misplace daily, and memories that vanish somewhere between breakfast and lunchtime.
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Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
I encountered Saint Margaret of Castello by accident. While browsing the bookshelves at the Saint Vincent de Paul thrift store, I discovered a copy of her biography. My primary interest, of course, was that we bear the same first name. Even though the book was quite tattered and worn, I could not resist buying it. Once home, I slid it into my “books to read” shelf and there it sat for close to a year. It was not for lack of interest, but rather the fact that I’m in the habit of accumulating books that I barely have time to read. Some of them I may never read at all. My interest in Margaret of Castello’s biography was re-sparked when I saw an article online about her cause for canonization. I pulled the book off its shelf, opened it up and began reading. Once begun, I couldn’t stop because the story of “Little Margaret” as her followers affectionately call her was so compelling. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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