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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Good Friday | Holy Week | family prayer
Sarah Pedrozo offers a short meditation on a few words to pray on Good Friday. Behold, behold, the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation. O come, let us adore. These familiar words are often intoned each year at the Good Friday service. On this somber day that we yet call "good,” what further words can be said? Perhaps just a few. Looking at the cross of Christ, we can say, “Thank you.”
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Palm Crosses | Palm Sunday | family prayer
Roxane Salonen shares her memories of Palm Sundays past and explains how we can create lasting memories with our families this Palm Sunday. During a recent trip to Mexico, I was struck by the palm trees and branches. They are so different than anything I’ve ever seen in my ordinary life, whether growing up on the Plains in northeast Montana or living on the Prairie of North Dakota as I do now, not to mention visits to our lake-laden land next door, Minnesota. These trees and their branches are so exotic, and yet, as a Catholic, I find them still so familiar because of our yearly procession with Jesus on Palm Sunday. There’s much to ponder in those last words, but that’s not what came to mind as I sized up these beautiful adornments of the resort town where my husband and I stayed for five nights last month. Instead, they called to mind the years my father would place palm branches behind a Madonna and Child painting that hung above our television.
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The Sacraments | catholic family life | family prayer
Caitlan Rangel describes five different ways she prays with her children on a daily and weekly basis. What's your family's favorite way to pray together? Is there anything better than hearing one of your children singing a song to God, or them showing you a picture they drew of themselves and Jesus, or listening to their sweet and powerful prayer intentions? As moms who care deeply about our children coming to know, love, and serve God, these moments of seeing their interior lives and love of God are such gifts. I have four children, ages 10, 8, 6, and 2, and just as I observe their unique personalities and physical characteristics, I am beginning to see similarities and differences in their spiritual lives. As moms who already have a lot on our plates, how can we attend to the varied spiritual lives of our children while also creating a unified family culture of discipleship? Here are a few ideas, and I would love to hear your insights and experiences in the comments!
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catholic family life | family prayer | music for worship
Singer-songwriter Lorraine Hess shares her thoughts on the power of music in all aspects of our lives. Reflect on how you incorporate music into parenting and prayer. Qui cantat bis orat — Latin for, “who sings, prays twice” (Saint Augustine). How does music double our prayer? Why does music have the power to convey what words alone cannot? And what does that have to do with motherhood? When I visited Lourdes, France, in 2024, I participated in the nightly procession of the statue of Our Lady. Pilgrims from all over the world followed the statue and prayed the Rosary, holding candles. The parade wove in a serpentine up and down the square like a meandering river of light. The first night I was there, I participated in the procession. The second night, I watched from the top of the Basilica, and it was a spectacular display of devotion to Mary. (If you ever go to Lourdes, I highly recommend experiencing both!)
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Glorious Mysteries | family prayer | how to pray the rosary
Shelly Henley Kelly recaps her own experience of using the new book, The Family That Prays Together Stays Together, to pray the Rosary. The first time I learned about Father Patrick Peyton was during the middle of the pandemic. Although I didn’t know much about him, I’d heard his catchy message before: “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” His life in devotion to Mary and the Rosary are represented in a new book, The Family that Prays Together Stays Together: A Bead-by-Bead Family Guide through the Mysteries, by Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. The invitation is simple: develop a deeper devotion to the Blessed Mother and daily prayer through the Rosary. The twist? Recognizing that habits need to be small, yet consistent, we’re invited to pray and meditate on just one mystery per day. How can you say no to that?
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Father Peyton | family prayer | how to pray the rosary | rosary novena
Does your family need a miracle? Join our Novena for Father Peyton's intercession (January 9 to 17) for your family —celebrating the Anniversary of Venerable Patrick Peyton’s birth.
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