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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
When I met my close-to-one-year-old niece for the second time in India a week ago (she is my cousin's daughter, who lives next door), I didn’t realize a newborn baby could teach me anything. I presumed our relationship would be a one-way street—I would offer my love as an uncle to my newest niece, and she would be the beneficiary.
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Today's gospel evoked memories of my childhood when I and my classmates were eager to be the first in line for lunch or recess. I vividly recall my Saint Mary's High School teachers gently guiding us to form an orderly line. Often, a student who had rushed to the front would be sent to the back, a lesson in humility. Sometimes, we would line up in alphabetical order, and those of us with names towards the end of the alphabet would playfully lament their fate. No matter the order, there was always a shared desire to be near the front, a desire for recognition and status that we all understand.
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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.
On Sunday night, my Dad and I watched the Memorial Day concert on TV. Like hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of others, we listened to the stories of brave men and women who have served our country. The backdrop was the United States Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial, two iconic sites in the United States of America. But they would not exist without the men and women who have built and protected the United States and her sovereignty.
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Eucharist | Grandparenting | sacramental grace
Spring is in full bloom in the Northeast, and nature’s cycle of life, rebirth of color, blossom, and branches is all around us. It is a renewal that enlivens the soul and beckons us to be conscious of our place in creation. Our youngest grandson recently celebrated his First Communion. We were present to enjoy the Sacramental moment. The celebration began as the children devoutly processed into Church, their hands in a posture of prayer, pointing upward and forward.
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Family Rosary | Glorious Mysteries | family prayer | power of prayer
The first time I learned about Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. was during the middle of the pandemic. Although I didn’t know much about him, I’d heard his catchy phrase before The Family That Prays Together Stays Together. His life in devotion to Mary and the Rosary is represented in a new book, The Family that Prays Together Stays Together: A Bead-by-Bead Family Guide through the Mysteries, by Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C.
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Ave Maria Press | Catholic Family Fun | Glorious Mysteries | pray the rosary
I have mixed emotions about praying the Rosary with my family. As children growing up in a Catholic home, we were “forced” to pray the Rosary, and I always dreaded it. The Rosary seemed to last forever, and there were a million other things I would have rather been doing. Because of this, my prayer time was never fruitful. I recited words, but never actually prayed. Today, rarely does a day go by that I don’t pray at least one decade of the Rosary. If I happen to be having a particularly sleepless night, I can get through more than one Rosary easily. My love and devotion to Mary have grown into an integral part of my faith, and I love having her as my spiritual mother.
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