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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Blessed Mother | Celebrating Marian feasts | Christmas Season | family prayer
Each year, on January 1, in addition to welcoming another year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. If unfamiliar with the phrase, ‘Mother of God,’ it would seem to imply some supernatural or divine being. It seems a little daunting to imagine ‘Mother of God.’ Perhaps the title brings to mind some supremely far away, celestial, or an unreachable person. However, in truth, the ‘Mother of God’ refers to Mary, the young girl from Nazareth, who, by her Fiat, brought to the world the Incarnation of God, Jesus... The title “Mother of God” is a Western derivation from the Greek “Theotokos,” which means “God-bearer.” This important title, which proclaims Mary’s divine motherhood, was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. The foundation is based on the understanding that Mary is the mother of Jesus, whom we believe to be God. She would then be the Mother of God.
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Luminous Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty has a way of lifting our hearts and souls to God, much like a heartfelt prayer. There is something truly captivating about seeing a breathtaking landscape or a detailed piece of art. These experiences have a special quality that makes us think and feel deeply. For example, a stunning waterfall can make us pause and marvel at creation, while a detailed painting can fill us with awe as we imagine the artist's hard work. Beauty reminds us of God's greatness and the care He put into the world around us. Art doesn't just stir our emotions; it can also tell a story or share an idea. For years, art has been used to convey messages about faith, especially during times when many people were unable to read. That's why you'll find so much religious art around: it speaks to us in ways words sometimes can't.
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Celebrating family life | Christmas Season | family prayer | memories
Looking back at childhood Christmases, Elena LaVictoire focuses not on what she lacked, but on the love of her family.
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Glorious Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Do you know the origins of stained glass windows in Catholic churches? Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days of the Faith, but it wasn’t until the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries that the art form became a staple. These cathedrals were enormous works of stone and required a substantial amount of light to keep them from being gloomy caves of gray inside. To brighten things up further, they decorated them richly with beautiful stained glass rather than using simple translucent glass. These splendid works of art not only brought light to the cathedrals but bathed them in brilliant color; most importantly, they instructed the faithful in a simple, engaging, and, yes, beautiful way. These masterpieces, then and now, lift the soul to God.
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Joyful Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty lifts the soul to God. There is something simply transformative and profound about seeing a grand vista, or an intricate work of art. It’s hard to put into words, but these things have an innate quality that makes people think and feel. A majestic view of a waterfall will often make someone stop and wonder at creation. A detailed painting evokes feelings of wonder and awe as we imagine the painstaking effort a skilled artist put into creating it. Beauty reminds us of God’s magnificence and the care and effort He put into the world around us.
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Advent | Advent calendar | Family Fun | family prayer | how to pray the rosary
During the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, prayer tends to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Our to-do lists seem endless, and we feel the pinch of the shortness of time even more during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Families rush the Advent season to hasten in Christmas long before our calendars reach the 24th of December. Advent and Christmas, like the season of Lent, are profound moments in our Liturgical Calendar where the first movement of our hearts should be toward our Lord, especially when we encounter Him through prayer.
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