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
One stormy night, a young newlywed couple found themselves stranded on a remote country road due to fallen trees. With no way to continue their journey, they spotted a dimly lit farmhouse and decided to seek help. An elderly couple holding a kerosene lamp greeted them at the door. Explaining their predicament, the young man humbly asked, “Could we spend the night here? A spot on the floor or an easy chair would be enough.” The elderly woman smiled kindly and said, “Why surely, children. We happen to have a spare bedroom.” Grateful and relieved, the young couple retired for the night. Early the next morning, they quietly dressed, left $200 on the dresser, and tiptoed downstairs, careful not to disturb their hosts. But as they opened the door to leave, they were startled to see the elderly couple asleep in the living room chairs. Only then did they realize the “spare bedroom” had been their hosts’ only bedroom.
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Catholic books | Celtic Spirituality | catholic mom | inspiration
Reading along, not required, to enjoy learning more about Celtic Spirituality with author Julianne Stanz, author of Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace (Loyola Press). This week, author Julianne Stanz and I began the conversation by exploring the concept of anam cara, or "soul friend." You won't want to miss the opportunity to learn about this beautiful way we connect with others, and about how you can pray to recognize your soul friend! And, of course, there's much more to the discussion in this session. Don't miss it!
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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 | Strengthening family unity
A family of four embarked on a ten-day cruise, carrying with them a staggering 13 bags. As they prepared to board the ship, the absent-minded husband suddenly exclaimed, “I forgot to bring the white bag from the main table!” Annoyed by the abundance of luggage, his wife retorted, “Thirteen bags are already more than enough! Why do you need another one?”
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Learn more about our faith | Strengthening family unity
Imagine the scene: a young couple, filled with love and faith, bringing their little girl to the Temple. She's just three years old, barely more than a toddler. They're dedicating her life to God's service. Can you imagine the trust, the hope, the immense love that must have filled their hearts?
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Catholic books | Celtic Spirituality | catholic mom | inspiration
You don't need to be reading along to be blessed by this inspiring conversation with author Julianne Stanz, author of Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace. What a blessing to be joined for three weeks with author Julianne Stanz as we delve into the Catholic Mom Book Club selection for Fall 2024: Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace, published by Loyola Press. Listen in (and share your thoughts in the comments) as we discuss the concept of a "thin place" and how that relates to our spiritual life. We unpack our spiritual "junk drawers" and contemplate what the "potato masher" in our lives may exist that keeps us from letting go of our stubborn habits and behaviors.
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Learn more about our faith | Love thy Neighbor
Friends, in the next few days, we will close another year of grace. With the Solemnity of Christ the King and Thanksgiving, families and individuals look forward to summarizing our lives before the Lord. In Jesus’ Gospel parable, He reminds us of God's grace entrusted to us in faith and challenges us to risk multiplying that grace in the time allotted to us on earth.
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