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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 | Our Lady of Sorrows | Seven Sorrows of Mary | catholic family life
During Lent 2023, I started an adventure with a special writing project about Our Lady of Sorrows. As part of my Lenten practices, I prayed one of Mary’s Sorrows for each day of the week, which was so convenient since there were seven of them! That practice continued post-Lent, as did my writing project, and I still pray one of the Sorrows (most!) mornings. Each of Mary's Sorrows has its own inspiration, as we see how the virtues of our Blessed Mother shine through in the most traumatic moments of her life. Knowing how Mary continually leaned into God and trusted Him despite tragic circumstances helps me to try to do the same when life becomes dark and feels hopeless. It's also very comforting to know that I have a Mother who desires to console me and can understand what I'm experiencing when I face deep loss and grief.
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Catholic Motherhood | family prayer | pray the rosary
Carmen Lappe considers how certain Mysteries of the Rosary are more applicable to certain seasons of life, and creates her own meditations on these Mysteries. The Rosary has been part of my daily prayer routine for quite some time now. I still struggle to quiet my mind and fully enter into the Mysteries, and yet I would be lost without these rhythmic prayers to start my day. Recently, I’ve noticed certain Mysteries pulling me in, inviting me into a deeper focus and reflection. For example, whenever I get to the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Presentation in the Temple, my heart aches. I wonder how Mary must have felt as she received Simeon’s prophecy that her Son would be the rise and fall of many. Then I wonder how I would have felt if, during our son’s Baptism, someone told me Damien would be diagnosed with a brain tumor and vision challenges in just a few short years.
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Catholic Motherhood | Podcast | catholic mom | inspiration
Discover the best of CatholicMom.com's content in Catholic Mom Audio Digest, a 5-minute minicast filled with encouragement for moms and families. Are you looking for some encouragement in the hurry-up-and-wait season of motherhood, or want a little inspiration for your day when you take a break for a cup of coffee or tea but are short on time? CatholicMom.com’s new 5-minute mini-podcast, Catholic Mom Audio Digest, delivers brief reflections to inspire your faith and vocation—right when you need it most. This bite-sized podcast is designed to fit your busy life. Each episode includes a thoughtful reflection to accompany you in your day and help you live your faith with joy and inspiration.
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Catholic Momcast | Catholic Motherhood | Podcast
Hosts Maria Morera Johnson and Allison Gingras have a heartfelt conversation about summer memories and dive into the archives for summer ideas for the family, including some mom hacks for young children. To listen to this week's podcast, simply hit "play" above, or subscribe in iTunes, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Visit CatholicMom.com for more ideas to entertain, educate, and inspire your family this summer!
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Blessed Mother | Catholic Motherhood | parenting advice
While scrolling on X, I saw a post from an account I didn’t follow (and whose name I don’t remember) with a message that stuck in my mind: “We should never hesitate to take our requests to Mary. Like any mother, Our Lady loves it when her children turn to her, even to ask for trivial things.” Even trivial things? My heart warmed at the thought. As a mother myself, I tend to answer requests, trivial or otherwise, with a hasty no and little room for discussion. But according to the post, I could ask the Queen of Heaven for any favor, and not only would she respond with the maternal patience I so often lack, but she might even say yes. Watching and Waiting The next morning, I finished my Rosary and sat gazing out the sunroom window. I’d stocked the feeders with seed, and a dozen or so squabbling finches arrived right on schedule. Sipping my coffee, I watched as they bumped each other from perch to perch. It was early May, the time of year when a bright, orange-breasted oriole might show up if you’d remembered to set something out for him.
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Catholic Motherhood | pray the rosary
My life has been so influenced and blessed by the Rosary. It was the cornerstone of my conversion to Catholicism and is part of the foundation of my faith. Recently this important prayer has been demonstrating its power again. Let me explain. When I was a young wife and newspaper reporter in Memphis, I had an older friend who was a devout Catholic. She enjoyed sharing her faith, and I remember going to a service at her parish where I received a blue, macrame Rosary. It sat in my car’s glove box for a while, but as I began exploring Catholicism, I took it out and started learning the prayers. The daily habit of praying the Rosary changed my mind, changed my heart, and changed my life.
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