World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
“Where do they find the strength?” That’s a question that most of us find ourselves asking about a family member, friend, or co-worker who is somehow persevering through an extraordinary challenge or challenges. It could be an illness, death of a loved one, troubled marriage, loss of a job or financial concerns, or perhaps a crisis of faith. Well, in the Letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul instructs the Ephesians, and all of us, through his opening sentence: “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power.”
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Dia de los Muertos | Family Activities | Month of the Holy Souls
Día de los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead," is primarily a Mexican tradition of celebrating the Catholic feasts of All Souls Day and All Saints Day. Although the celebration incorporates pre-Columbian indigenous elements, the modern Día de los Muertos is a reverent way to celebrate the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints and to pray for the souls of the deceased. Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about the celebration that require clarification.
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Family Rosary | The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands
Growing up in Uganda, I came to learn early on in life the praying of the Rosary. Our family was active in the Church, and we had regular family prayer. Uganda is 41% Catholic, and it is the land of the Ugandan Martyrs, whose feast day on the universal Church calendar is celebrated as the Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions. The Catholic Church in Uganda is vibrant with full Churches, full seminaries, and full convents. The Catholic Church in Uganda runs some of the top schools and the best healthcare institutions in the country.
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One of my co-workers often greets me with the question, “What’s going on?” This question came to mind as I read and prayed over the readings from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: what was going on in their community that led Saint Paul to focus on family relationships and how they tied to God’s relationship with us and His Church?
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The-Rosary-In-Our-Hands | family prayer
As an adult convert, one of the most thrilling and surprising aspects of Catholicism is the enjoyment I experience from practicing and learning about my faith. It’s like an infinite spiritual playground that continues to evolve and unfold, which leads to deeper and more profound personal experiences. The Rosary has been one of those growing spiritual journeys for me (and maybe for you, too). Until a few years ago, my perception of the Rosary was that praying it was what “good Catholics” did. So I did, too; I prayed the Rosary with a group, but rarely on my own. Just as Mary draws us closer to herself and her Son, she has worked her motherly “magic” on me, too! I’ve been praying it nearly every day over the last six months, which is a miracle for this girl who has a tendency to think, “I don’t have enough time.”
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Jesus reminds us that God's kingdom is like a mustard seed or yeast – small beginnings with incredible power to transform. True transformation starts within, in our hearts, where faith, like a tiny seed, grows into something extraordinary with God's grace.
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