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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 | Why pray?
Like St. Peter and the other Apostles, St. Stanislaus is an exemplary role model for courageous trust in Jesus. Born in Poland, Stanislaus lived in the 11th century and served as a priest and then bishop in Krakow. He was a gifted preacher, a compassionate benefactor of the poor, and a proponent of clerical reform. Like the Apostles, he faced opposition, in his case from the King of Poland, Boleslaus II, during his time as bishop. And, like the Apostles, Stanislaus refused to compromise his adherence to Jesus' teachings, which resulted in his being killed during the celebration of the Mass. Stanislaus knew the risk to his life and yet held to what Peter said in today's first reading: "We must obey God rather than men."
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The first line of today's gospel is perhaps the most famous biblical verse. It is on bumper stickers, barn roofs, and T-shirts. This sentence should send a chill through any person's heart. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life."
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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.
Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
The Greek word for wind, "pneuma," is also used for the word Spirit. So, in this Gospel from John, Jesus links His teaching between the natural and supernatural worlds through His word choice connecting to both realities. But, just like yesterday's eclipse of the sun, at times, we only have a partial understanding of our natural world. This is the point that Jesus is making with Nicodemus when He says, "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes…"
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Today, we gather to honor the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, a moment of divine intervention that forever changed the course of humanity. It was during this sacred event that St. Gabriel, the Archangel, descended from the heavens to deliver a message of profound significance to Mary. She was chosen to be the vessel for the divine incarnation of God Himself, Jesus Christ, through the miraculous workings of the Holy Spirit.
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Divine Mercy Sunday | family prayer | mercy
Caught in Providence is a beloved local show where I live because of the fair Judge Frank Caprio. In a recent episode, a priest visited the judge with a special message and donation. Both priest and judge shared stories of witnessing mercy and the importance of the unity of family. The priest shared that the meaning of the Hebrew word chesed can be translated as mercy or to “journey with someone, to pull them out of the depths of their despair.” I have a devotion to the Divine Mercy and yes, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet is indeed a journey.
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Catholic Central | Catholic Family Fun | how to pray the rosary
We take on some very consequential issues this week on “Catholic Central” – pro-life issues, sexuality, and the nature of love -- but they are ones that all families face sooner or later. Luckily, we close out with a couple of great tools to keep your faith on an even keel – the Rosary and the Psalms. Buckle up!
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