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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Dr. Deepak Chopra, in his book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, states that for our bodies to thrive, they must “live on the wings of change.” Science tells us that our bodies are in a constant state of renewal—our skin replaces itself every month, our liver every six weeks, and our skeleton every three months. By the end of the year, 98% of the atoms in our bodies will have been exchanged for new ones.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
Yesterday, I asked several of my co-workers a question about the Our Father prayer. I asked each of them when you pray the words: “…thy Kingdom come thy will be done and earth as it is in heaven…”—what does the part “thy will be done” make you think of? Three people said in so many words: I think about God having a plan. Each of them finds a sense of peace and reassurance in knowing that God has it all figured out. So, what do you think about when you say to God the Father: “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” ---what comes into your mind? What are you or I signing onto when we make that prayer?
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Michelangelo is widely regarded as one of history's most exceptional artists. His masterpieces, including "Pieta," "David," "Moses," and "The Last Judgment," are celebrated for their unparalleled beauty and perfection. Among his remarkable achievements is the series of frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. Legend has it that while meticulously painting these frescoes, lying on his back for countless hours to perfect every detail, a friend questioned the necessity of such effort for artwork that would be viewed from afar. The friend asked, "Who will notice if it's perfect or not?" Michelangelo, renowned for his commitment to excellence, simply replied, "I will." This wasn’t about external validation; it was about internal integrity. It was about a deep-seated need to be authentic in every stroke of his brush, to create something true to the vision within him. This same principle, this pursuit of authenticity, is vital to our spiritual lives. Without it, our spiritual endeavors lack depth and nourishment. True spiritual growth blossoms from a foundation of credibility and authenticity.
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Hope | Jubilee of Hope | family prayer
We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. (Letter from Pope Francis announcing the Jubilee 2025) A Story of Hope A priest shared a beautiful story with me recently. He was asked to open his parish to a large group of individuals who were displaced due to the recent floods. He had plenty of room in the parish center, but the building had no power. As the individuals set up their cots in different areas of the room, he noticed two gentlemen who parked themselves right next to an electric outlet and immediately plugged in their phones. The priest approached them and jokingly said, “If you have found a way to charge your phones, you must definitely be connected to a higher power than I am.” One of the men smiled and said, “Once power is restored, guess who will be the first to charge his phone?”
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Marian devotion | Memorare | family prayer
I’m a convert, so my journey with the Blessed Mother started late in life. At the beginning of that journey, I read everything about the faith I could find. I was overwhelmed for the most part but determined. When our boys were little, I learned to pray the Rosary when they took their naps. Most of the time I fell asleep during the prayer, but I did learn it. The arrival of our daughter brought fear into my prayers. My mother and I didn't get along. My fears of being the mother that she was to my own daughter began to overtake me. I reached out to the Blessed Mother. This began my practice of Hail Mary-ing my way through everything. If I was afraid, I would immediately start the prayer; if I was overwhelmed, angry, happy, or sad—whatever was happening in my life—I would whisper a Hail Mary.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 a Jubilee Year, a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and grace celebrated every 25 years. This year's theme is "Pilgrims of Hope," which invites all Catholics to embark on a journey of faith and transformation. Today, we're called to reflect and pray for all those involved in the World of Communications. Traditionally, this involved radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. Now, the world of communications has exploded to include the digital world, allowing people to communicate with people worldwide who share their particular interests.
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