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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Catholic Family Fun | parenting hacks | summer activities
Are you ready for summer? Honestly, this is a question for all of us: parents with school-aged children, teachers, empty-nesters, grandparents, and all those who look forward to beach weather. June is month number 6, the middle of the year. I think it is a good time to access and plan for the summer or even the rest of the year. For many of us, summer is a time to slow down a bit and enjoy more leisure time. Before we get to the fun though, take some time to process your life before moving forward. Are you ready?
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Rosary Stories | Through the Mysteries Podcast | family prayer
In this episode of Family Rosary's new podcast, hosts Father David Marcham, Stephen Driscoll, and Allison Gingras continue reflecting on how the Mysteries of the Rosary can be experienced in the ordinary of each day! Father Marcham then unpacks the scriptural origins of the Hail Mary, where the Church has added its petition, and why. Followed by a fascinating discussion on why the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘full of grace’ and what that truly means for each of us. The trio also dives deeper into the meaning of grace, the undeserved yet freely given gift of God's Holy Spirit, and why that is so important to our lives. Their discussion then turns to Mary being more than just a fragile porcelain statue. She is alive in Heaven, a powerful advocate for us, and a model of strength and humility. Wrapping the episode, as they always do, with a Rosary Story, this one is from Maria Gallagher, a long-time Catholic Mom contributor. Don't miss this Marian-focused episode that is sure to inspire, entertain, and encourage! Click the play button below or visit your favorite podcast platform to listen to episode 9:
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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.
Feast of the Sacred Heart | Learn more about our faith
Last week, I had the joy of accompanying a wonderful group on a pilgrimage to Montreal and Quebec, Canada and one of our stops was the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec. Nestled along the St. Lawrence River, this shrine has welcomed pilgrims for over 350 years. Miracles have unfolded there, crutches left behind, burdens laid down, faith renewed. But for me, the most unexpected grace came not in the grand basilica, but in the crypt church, in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At first glance, it was like any other statue until I noticed something peculiar. A kneeler was placed not directly in front of the statue but awkwardly off to the side, toward Jesus’ right. Our guide encouraged us to kneel there and look at the face of Jesus. I did, and some of us did, too. And what I saw caught me off guard.
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Catholic Faith | Feast of the Sacred Heart
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27. The feast day is essentially a celebration of God’s Tenderness, His Mercy, His Love for each one of us, and for our world. The Heart in almost every human tradition is considered the symbol and the habitat for Love, for Tenderness, and for Mercy. The Prophet Ezekiel shares how the Lord unveils His tender heart when he says, “I myself will look after and tend my sheep. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” Through this reading, we look inside the tender heart of God, who personally and deeply cares about each one of us and is willing to do anything it takes to care for each one of us. He does not want to delegate but wants to personally take care of us. His is a Love that is gentle, that seeks, that cares, and that is merciful.
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Today’s readings, particularly, the gospel can lead us to ask ourselves, “what are we building our lives upon…is it our 401k plans, educational degrees, whatever makes us happy, or something else…? Compounding this question but related is the fact that life is complex and with lots of twists and turns. Anyone who has been on this earth for more than eighteen years or maybe even less knows this from experience….just consider the two couples: Elizabeth and Zechariah and Abram and Sarai and their stories that we have heard about this week.
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Our Gospel today offers a simple, yet profound, truth from Jesus: "By their fruits you will know them." This isn't just a general observation; it's an invitation to look inward, particularly at our own homes. What kind of fruit are our families bearing? Are they overflowing with prayer, patience, kindness, and joy?
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