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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
I believe today's First Reading, from 1 Samuel, deserves our undivided attention and thoughtful reflection. The Israelite army was again engaged in battle with their neighboring nation, the Philistines. In the initial encounter, almost four thousand Israelite soldiers were killed, which cast a shadow of gloom and despair over the Israelite camp. The elders couldn't help but wonder how and why the invincible chosen people of Yahweh, who were always supported by the mighty hands of the God of armed forces, suffered such a severe defeat. It was unthinkable for them to be defeated by a pagan army that worshipped demons, and it was indeed a humiliation for Yahweh as well. They decided to bring Yahweh himself to the forefront to teach the Philistines a lesson.
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On the anniversary of the birth of Venerable Patrick Peyton, Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., past president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, reflects on Father Peyton’s ability to promote and share his love for Our Blessed Lady and his desire to bring family prayer to families around the world.
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Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
God calls each of us. We may not see or hear Jesus the way that Philip did in today’s gospel, but Jesus still “speaks” to us in varied ways.
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Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military generals ever, almost conquered the world because of his leadership. One night, he could not sleep. He left his tent and walked around the camp. He found one of his guard soldiers sleeping while on duty as he went around. This was a very grave offense, with a consequence of death by burning. Alexander woke him up. The soldier recognized the commander-in-chief and begged for his life.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Seasonal Reflections
At the end of a long sermon on gratitude, a visiting preacher said, "And remember, no matter how small the gift, always be grateful to the Lord." Later, when it was time for the collection, an usher used the preacher's hat to take up the offering.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Today, we remember and pray to St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor of the Church. He lived in the 1500s and, as a Jesuit, worked in South Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and Switzerland during the Counter-Reformation. He was a tireless and influential preacher and teacher for adults and children. One of his famous sayings was, “If you have too much to do, with God’s help, you will find the time to do it.” That’s good spiritual advice at any time, but especially with only a few days left till Christmas Eve!
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