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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
What does the Annunciation of the Lord mean to you and me? How has it changed our lives? Today we give thanks to God and our Blessed Mother. We thank God that the Word of God took on human flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We give thanks to Mary for her saying “yes” to becoming the Mother of God. Each Monday and Saturday, as we pray the Rosary, we have the chance to reflect upon the Annunciation of the Lord in the first Joyful Mystery. We enter into that incredible exchange with the angel Gabriel greeting Mary with a blessing from God, then reassuring her: to not be afraid.
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Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
When my oldest child was a senior in high school, we embarked on the college admissions process. It was the first time for us as parents, which, no doubt, made it a more difficult experience for everyone in the family. Despite the arguments and difficulties of launching into college, my son has since grown into a kind, responsible, self-sufficient adult with whom I love spending time. Being a May baby, he was always a smidge behind the other kids. In high school, when others were excitedly researching schools, going on visits, and later applying, he gradually became a deer in headlights. We didn’t know what to expect or how to manage this. When we were younger, our parents either didn’t care if we went to college or left us to handle it on our own. It worked out. We both hold degrees. We naturally expected the same from our son. He did not deliver. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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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.
Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
A few years ago, my friend’s kitchen sink started leaking. Drip. Drip. His wife asked to call the plumber. For weeks, he ignored it. Finally, he thought, “I can fix this myself. He bought some tools, watched tutorials on YouTube, and dismantled the sink. Water sprayed everywhere; His children had a good laugh. His spouse sighed. His dog hid himself in the closet. Finally, he had to call in the plumper; a plumber arrived with his own toolkit, twisted a single valve, and said, “You just needed to tighten this.” The Plumper charged him 50 Dollars, but my friend had purchased tools costing more than $200 already. Lesson: Pride is expensive. That’s Naaman’s story. A decorated general but inflicted with leprosy, he’s told by the prophet Elisha to wash seven times in the muddy Jordan River. Naaman storms off, furious. “I expected a grand ritual.” But His servants—bless them— they nudge him: “If the prophet asked you to do something hard, you’d do it. So why not this?” Reluctantly, Naaman obeys. His skin heals. His pride cracks.
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Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
Saint Gemma Galgani was an Italian mystic born in 1878; she suffered greatly, having lost her parents at a young age and contracting meningitis that affected her hearing and spine. Saint Gemma’s profound spirituality and deep devotion to Christ were strengthened by extraordinary mystical experiences, including visions of Jesus and her guardian angel. My family became aware of this extraordinary holy woman of faith when searching for a saint to seek intercession for my daughter’s advanced scoliosis. After receiving a miraculous intercession, I dove deeper into Gemma’s life and faith, adding her permanently to my personal #SaintPosse. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
It seems like a lifetime ago when I was first introduced to Venerable Maria Teresa Quevedo, or “Teresita,” as she was affectionately nicknamed. During my early 20s, fresh out of college and searching for meaning in life, I experienced a deep reversion back to the faith. Guided by the steady hand of the Blessed Mother, I was discerning consecrated life, visiting with several religious communities, and discovering my love for Carmelite spirituality in the process. Imperfect as I was, I was still eager to serve God in whatever vocation He intended for my life. Absorbing the writings of the popular saints of Carmel, Saint Thérèse, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, all became heavenly friends and mentors to me. But there was one saintly woman, less widely known, who unexpectedly became a source of inspiration to me during my time of discerning. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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Holy Women's History Month | Lenten Reflections | catholic mom | women's history month
I’ve always wanted to be a strong woman, the kind of woman who wasn’t afraid of anything and stood strong in what she believed. Unfortunately, I was the girl who was scared to get her driver’s license, the girl who was scared to take risks, trying always to keep the peace and not make waves. When I left home for college, I made a plan that would help me achieve my strong woman goals. In my 18-year-old eyes, a strong woman had a college education. A strong woman had her own job, lived on her own, and could support herself financially. I worked hard my first two years of college toward these goals. Prefer to Listen—Audio version available!
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