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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Return to the Church | Strengthening family unity
In our gospel today, the Lord responds to some of the criticism He faced from the Scribes and the Pharisees. He uses the example of children’s behavior to illustrate His point. He said that his critics seemed like children playing in a village market. One group invited the other, ‘Come let us play weddings!’ and the other said ‘We don’t feel today like playing happiness.’ The first group said, ‘Alright, come on, let us play funerals!’ The second group said, ‘We don’t feel like playing sadness today.’ No matter what was suggested, the second group did not want to do it; and no matter what was offered, they found fault with it.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Today, we reflect on the readings from Isaiah and Matthew, we also commemorate Saint John of the Cross, a mystic and a teacher of deep faith. His life story intertwines beautifully with today's scriptural themes. In the book of Isaiah, we hear God's tender assurances: “I will help you... I will make... I will answer...”
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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.
Howard Loomis was abandoned by his mother in 1918 at Father Flanagan's Home for Boys, which had just opened a year earlier. As a result of his polio, Howard wore heavy leg braces. He had trouble walking, especially up and down stairs. Soon, several of the Home’s older boys carried Howard up and down the stairs. One day, Father Flanagan asked Reuben Granger, one of those older boys, if carrying Howard was hard. Reuben replied, “He isn’t heavy, Father, he’s my brother.”
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
In 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at Guadalupe, near Mexico City. Juan Diego was an Indian who first encountered our Blessed Mother as he traveled from his village to take part in divine worship and listen to God’s commandments. As he approached a hill named Tepeyac, with the dawn breaking, he heard someone calling his name. As he traveled up the hill, he caught sight of a woman, the likes of whom he had never seen, whose clothing was radiant as the sun. She said in the most kind and gentle way, “Juanito, the humblest of my children, know and understand that I am the ever-virgin Mary.”
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Advent | Family Fun | family prayer
The celebration of Advent enters its second week, and like many families, you are probably finding your calendar busier than ever. Family Rosary invites you to use our many inspirational and family-friendly resources to carve out time this week to share the precious gift of prayer with your family. Please visit FamilyRosary.org each week for new resources!
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Healing the family | Holy lives of inspiration
Normally, when I read today’s gospel, I’m so drawn to the extraordinary act of love by the friends of the man who is paralyzed, that I miss the first line where it says, “One day as Jesus was teaching …”
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