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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 | Learn more about our faith
Michelangelo is widely regarded as one of history's most exceptional artists. His masterpieces, including "Pieta," "David," "Moses," and "The Last Judgment," are celebrated for their unparalleled beauty and perfection. Among his remarkable achievements is the series of frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. Legend has it that while meticulously painting these frescoes, lying on his back for countless hours to perfect every detail, a friend questioned the necessity of such effort for artwork that would be viewed from afar. The friend asked, "Who will notice if it's perfect or not?" Michelangelo, renowned for his commitment to excellence, simply replied, "I will." This wasn’t about external validation; it was about internal integrity. It was about a deep-seated need to be authentic in every stroke of his brush, to create something true to the vision within him. This same principle, this pursuit of authenticity, is vital to our spiritual lives. Without it, our spiritual endeavors lack depth and nourishment. True spiritual growth blossoms from a foundation of credibility and authenticity.
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Hope | Jubilee of Hope | family prayer
We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. (Letter from Pope Francis announcing the Jubilee 2025) A Story of Hope A priest shared a beautiful story with me recently. He was asked to open his parish to a large group of individuals who were displaced due to the recent floods. He had plenty of room in the parish center, but the building had no power. As the individuals set up their cots in different areas of the room, he noticed two gentlemen who parked themselves right next to an electric outlet and immediately plugged in their phones. The priest approached them and jokingly said, “If you have found a way to charge your phones, you must definitely be connected to a higher power than I am.” One of the men smiled and said, “Once power is restored, guess who will be the first to charge his phone?”
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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.
Marian devotion | Memorare | family prayer
I’m a convert, so my journey with the Blessed Mother started late in life. At the beginning of that journey, I read everything about the faith I could find. I was overwhelmed for the most part but determined. When our boys were little, I learned to pray the Rosary when they took their naps. Most of the time I fell asleep during the prayer, but I did learn it. The arrival of our daughter brought fear into my prayers. My mother and I didn't get along. My fears of being the mother that she was to my own daughter began to overtake me. I reached out to the Blessed Mother. This began my practice of Hail Mary-ing my way through everything. If I was afraid, I would immediately start the prayer; if I was overwhelmed, angry, happy, or sad—whatever was happening in my life—I would whisper a Hail Mary.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Why pray?
The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 a Jubilee Year, a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and grace celebrated every 25 years. This year's theme is "Pilgrims of Hope," which invites all Catholics to embark on a journey of faith and transformation. Today, we're called to reflect and pray for all those involved in the World of Communications. Traditionally, this involved radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. Now, the world of communications has exploded to include the digital world, allowing people to communicate with people worldwide who share their particular interests.
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On January 23, we remember and pray to Saint Marianne Cope, a religious of the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York. Sister Cope served as a principal and teacher in New York schools and helped establish two Catholic hospitals. From there, she went to Hawaii to serve the lepers of Molokai, where she met and assisted Saint Damien for thirty-five years.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
The Letter to the Hebrews draws our attention to a fascinating and mysterious biblical figure—Melchizedek. Though his appearances in Scripture are brief, his significance is profound, mentioned briefly in Genesis, celebrated in the Psalms, and expounded upon in the Letter to the Hebrews, offering us a deeper understanding of Christ’s eternal priesthood and God’s plan for humanity. Melchizedek first emerges in Genesis 14 as the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High. After Abraham’s victorious battle, Melchizedek greets him with bread and wine and blesses him. In return, Abraham offers Melchizedek a tithe of his spoils. This brief encounter is packed with meaning. The name Melchizedek translates to “king of righteousness,” while his title, king of Salem, means “king of peace.” These titles, righteousness, and peace, point us to Jesus, the ultimate King, and High Priest.
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