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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Praying with images | Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty lifts the soul, especially when combined with prayer. A grand vista or intricate work of art can be transformative, evoking deep feelings and thoughts. A majestic waterfall or a detailed painting reminds us of God’s magnificence and the care He put into the world. Art communicates ideas and stories, especially in matters of faith, when literacy was less common, leading to a vast collection of religious art. Since the early Church, Christians have used art to share the Good News and tell Christ’s story. Frescoes, paintings, and other traditional art forms were common. As time passed, artists explored various styles and mediums, resulting in the creation of new art forms. Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days, but it became a staple in the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries. These cathedrals, decorated with beautiful stained glass, brought light and color, instructing the faithful in a simple, engaging, and beautiful way.
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Catholic Faith | family prayer | pray the rosary
Several years ago, my mom found herself in a precarious situation. Financial struggles and the complexities of her ordeal made her problems seem insurmountable. Her mental health—and her very future—hung in the balance, and I did everything I could to help. At the same time, my wife and I were new parents, and the weight of trying to pull my mom out of her difficulties threatened to pull my marriage down with it. I felt trapped, as if caught between Scylla and Charybdis—every path forward seemed to lead to disaster. I was treading water, searching for something—anything—to hold onto, even just a tiny glimmer of hope. And that consoling presence I longed for? It was nowhere to be found. I remember sitting in my mom’s living room one evening, anxiety pressing down on me. I worried about her. About myself. About my wife and our child. Then, as if something deep within me was praying through me, I began murmuring the Hail Mary. Over and over, I whispered: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee… My thought—or maybe my hope—was that another mother might step in to help us. Without even realizing it, my mind had slipped into a practice I had learned as a child in Catholic school—the Rosary. That night, as I whispered each prayer, I asked for a miracle. And do you know what happened?
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Lenten Prayer | catholic family life | family prayer | pray the rosary
This Lent, consider embracing the Family Rosary as a powerful way to draw closer to Christ. While it can be challenging to find time in the busyness of family life, weaving the Rosary into your daily routine is a beautiful way to grow in prayer together. Here are seven practical ideas to help make the Rosary a meaningful Lenten practice for your family, no matter your schedule or stage of life.
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Lent activities | catholic devotions | family prayer
The other day at the gym, I was pushing myself hard. It was a kickboxing class that day (my favorite), and I challenged myself to really jump during my kicks. I was happy with my ability to do what I thought was challenging until I returned to the beginning of the line. That’s when another woman approached me and gently told me that the combination we had just done caused her to twist her ankle back when I first joined the gym. She wanted to warn me to just be careful, and I was instantly humbled. Here I was, letting pride get the best of me instead of thinking about the consequence of injury from getting too comfortable in my jumps. The embarrassing part is that it has happened to me before; I fell one day during a jump and rolled my ankle. I was lucky enough that I didn’t injure it and could get back up and continue with the class. But I should have let that instance be a reminder to slow down.
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Parenthood | catholic family life | family prayer
“Come, Holy Spirit,” I said as I began a short period of daily personal prayer with my small kids. I closed my eyes, enjoying the momentary silence that fell over the room. Suddenly, I heard my toddler speak. “I’m going to talk to God. God, what do you need?” That simple, heartfelt prayer gripped my heart. Throughout the rest of the day, I continued thinking about this prayer. I marveled at my child’s beautiful simplicity and open vulnerability with God. Throughout Jesus’s public ministry, He looked upon children with love and reverence and held them up as an example: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
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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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