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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Catholic Motherhood | Celebrating family life
'Tis the night before Christmas, and throughout the domain, while the children are sleeping, Mom’s going insane. The stockings, still empty, are strewn on the floor; Her husband, still absent, has gone to the store. Dreaming of presents, kids sprawl on their beds; Mom hopes their good fortune won't go to their heads. As she decorates cookies, Mom hears the clock chime, She gulps down cold coffee and frowns at the time.
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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.
Glorious Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Do you know the origins of stained glass windows in Catholic churches? Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days of the Faith, but it wasn’t until the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries that the art form became a staple. These cathedrals were enormous works of stone and required a substantial amount of light to keep them from being gloomy caves of gray inside. To brighten things up further, they decorated them richly with beautiful stained glass rather than using simple translucent glass. These splendid works of art not only brought light to the cathedrals but bathed them in brilliant color; most importantly, they instructed the faithful in a simple, engaging, and, yes, beautiful way. These masterpieces, then and now, lift the soul to God.
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Advent | Catholic Faith | Grandpa's Garden | catholic family life
It’s interesting how often we follow routines around holidays and holy days. Families have traditional ways of decorating, menus for shared meals, and seating arrangements. There is something comforting about the ways we have come to celebrate important events together. Yet, with any celebration, change is in the air. I don’t think things are ever “the same” year to year, celebration to celebration, or day to day. It might seem that way, but we constantly change, we grow, history unfolds, our children grow up, they bring their families to gatherings, and so on. God’s Spirit fills the earth, gives life, and embraces our hearts with the life-changing grace of His presence.
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How do we react when we feel God leading us somewhere or to toward someone, including closer to Him? Sometimes, it’s easy and it all makes sense; we were just waiting for God to confirm what we thought we should do. At other times, we’re like Ahaz, to whom God offers something good—a chance to receive a sign that will strengthen faith in Him—and we just can’t believe it, so we’re hesitant to act.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
As Advent draws to a close, today’s readings share two deeply moving stories—those of Manoah and his wife, and Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both couples endured the profound heartache of being without children, a struggle that brought cultural stigma, personal pain, and perhaps moments of silent questioning. Their journeys invite us to reflect on the power of faith, patience, and endurance.
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