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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Spiritual Works of Mercy | catholic family life | corporal works of mercy | family Lenten activities
I'm not a pro when it comes to liturgical living, especially as it's viewed today. I grew up in a home that was solidly Catholic, but celebrating feast days throughout the year wasn't something we regularly did. We had an Advent wreath. A Christmas tree. We went to Stations of the Cross and gave things up for Lent. But there were no sweet buns for St. Lucia, no shoes for old St. Nick. We didn't dress as saints on All Saints Day; our evening meals didn't reflect the feasts of the Church. We were a solid, loving, traditional Catholic family. Our faith was simply yet devoutly lived. But a decade ago, when I had my first toddler, the idea of living liturgically — doing more than my family did — was pretty intimidating. The dawn of Pinterest and Instagram made me even more shell-shocked. Three active kids, a work-from-home, homeschooling schedule, and I'm supposed to make a crown of thorns centerpiece from scratch? Truthfully, I was ready to throw in the towel, especially when it came to Lent. Advent was easy — there was a baby, and there were farm animals — but 40 days in the desert? Our Lord's scourging?! His gruesome death?! Guiding my family through this season eluded me, and it brought me a whole lot of guilt. That is until I figured out how to approach it, and it's gone well for us ever since.
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Advent | Almsgiving | corporal works of mercy | family prayer
The Corporal Works of Mercy—feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless—can all be categorized with one powerful word: Almsgiving. We often associate that word with Lent, but the truth is people and organizations who serve those in need require assistance all year long. As Christians, we must love and care for those in our society who are in most need. That is why it is important to continue the practice of almsgiving year-round. On the Feast Day of Saint Stephen, we remember his role not only as the first Christian martyr but also as one of the first deacons! As a deacon, Saint Stephen was charged with giving alms to the poor and serving those in most need. On the Feast of Saint Stephen, December 26, make time to reflect upon how you can best serve our brothers and sisters in need.
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Charity | Family Activities | corporal works of mercy
With Thanksgiving and Christmas rapidly approaching, many families like to get into the season by donating to their local food banks. Food can drives and other charity programs are a common part of the holiday season when many people are feeling more generous, grateful, and charitable. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked as a youth minister, and our youth group assisted with organization and distribution at the local food bank. I grew up giving to food banks, but after several years of serving the poor, I’ve learned quite a few surprising facts about food banks and donation needs.
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acts of kindness | community building | corporal works of mercy
It was one of those days when I was questioning God. Not in an angry, confrontational way, but rather a bit wistfully. I just wondered why a long-time, urgent prayer request had not been granted. It was like a Who-Done-It mystery that offered few clues for solving. I was the bumbling detective, chasing leads, only to find myself completely baffled. All this was going through my head as I approached the restaurant drive-thru. I placed my usual order, a creature of both habit and caffeine withdrawal. I could not wait to take that first sip of morning java.
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corporal works of mercy | family life
To love our neighbor, means to open our hearts to all people, including the hungry, thirsty, homeless, truly anyone is need. I’m afraid that, for much of my life, I didn’t love them very much. Of course, I’d pray for them, but I had little direct interaction with those living in poverty.
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