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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Epiphany | New Year's Resolutions | family blessing
I’ll be honest. I have mixed feelings about New Year’s resolution season. Between the guilt-ridden goals to look better or do more, the temptation for self-centered navel-gazing, and the thinly veiled marketing gimmicks, I’m not excited to set goals on a prescribed January timeline. A natural southerner, I also lack winter motivation for pretty much anything. I’d much prefer hiding under a blanket fort with my kids and a good cup of tea until at least April. Despite my hesitations, I recognize that this is a fresh start for many of us. Thanks to the intentionality that this turning of the calendar provides, I’ve watched friends accomplish some amazing things for themselves, their families, and for God. The act of reflecting and growing is certainly graced by God. With this in mind, how is the Lord guiding our steps in 2025?
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Marriage | New Year's Resolutions | family prayer | sacrament of marriage
2025: The Year of the Marriage? We are just beginning 2025, so many people are still thinking about resolutions they might make for this new year. Have you made one yet? If not, consider choosing a resolution that will strengthen your most important relationship this side of heaven: your marriage. Our marriages are covenants: sacred contracts that bond the two spouses into a family. The Catholic Church provides a comprehensive and truly beautiful list of vows to seal the marital covenant. The more I study these vows, the more grateful I am to the Church for them! Here they are, in simplest terms: I have vowed to love my husband freely, fully, faithfully, and fruitfully; for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death parts us.
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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.
Holy lives of inspiration | Return to the Church
As we have stepped into the New Year, we are reminded of the festive celebrations and activities that marked the past week. We’ve shared sweets, meals, laughter, and reflections on God’s Word. But as the celebrations subside, life begins to feel ordinary again. This transition can be dangerous, leading to laxity, a lack of enthusiasm, and a tendency to take things for granted.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
It’s fitting that we remember and pray to both Saint Basil and Saint Gregory today, for they were close friends. Together they fought against a heresy called Arianism, which sought to deny the full divinity of Jesus.
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Father Patrick Peyton | family prayer | peace | rosary novena
Let’s all make a New Year resolution worth keeping! Praying for and with our family! The annual Family Rosary Novena for Family Unity and Peace celebrating Venerable Patrick Peyton’s Birth begins on January 9 and continues each day through January 17. What a wonderful way for you and your family to begin the New Year: by inviting Venerable Patrick Peyton and Our Blessed Mother to join you in prayer for your needs and concerns. The Catholic Church refers to this as “intercessory prayer,” simply turning to our heavenly friends to pray with you and for you. Download Novena Booklet (English) Download Novena Booklet (Spanish) We invite you to pray with us each day, either here on our blog or via our daily 11:30 am ET Rosary live stream on YouTube. Read on to learn more!
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Celebrating Marian feasts | New Year | pray the rosary
Today, on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, let us honor the Blessed Mother by attending Mass and offering a Rosary, especially as a family. Mary's fiat, her "yes" to God’s plan to bear and give birth to our Savior, Jesus, inspires us to embrace faith and trust in God as we begin the new year. The Glorious Mysteries, which include Mary's Assumption and Coronation, are recited on Wednesdays. All the more reason to set aside time to celebrate this special day with the Rosary, even if it’s just two decades. Swipe through the images to learn more about Mary, Mother of God. Then, click the button below the carousel to pray and meditate on the Glorious Mysteries along with inspiring and stunning classical art.
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