World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
In the midst of a political upheaval in our own country, with a few leaders on the world stage that are acting like bullies, there are some timely words that God has for us in these Scripture readings today. He addressed both in the readings we heard at mass today. To the political bullies and to those who have no need of God since money has become their god, the psalm response from the Book of Deuteronomy had a reminder for both, “It is I who deal death and give life."
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It is one of the most important Feast Days of Our Blessed Mother. This day is also important to me personally because I was ordained on August 14, 2005, and I celebrated my Thanksgiving Mass on August 15. My vocation story has Our Blessed Mother somewhere in the mix. Possibly you wouldn’t have me as a priest without her intercession. Keep praying for me!
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It was the Alleluia antiphon that stayed with me as I sat in the chapel seeking inspiration for the Scripture readings today. “Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statues.” In other words, let your face be seen by me and teach me. The prophet Ezekiel was so blessed. God used him to let a rebellious people know that their rebellion was about to end in captivity and exile.
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons in Rome during the persecution of the Christians by emperor Valerian in the year 258 AD. He was responsible for the church’s monies, and he was in charge of ministering to the poor whose patron saint he has become. He died a very painful death of being grilled on a fire – like goat meat, and somehow, he has become the patron saint of cooks!
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Edith Stein, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: a beautiful person, a seeker of truth and love who found her way in Christ. A Martyr for Truth and Love. A great sister for us and a model for our times.
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After the French Revolution in the 1790’s, parts of France were left in social chaos. Extreme atheist factions had gotten control in some areas and the aftermath was a material, social, and spiritual collapse. This was still the case in a rural village in south central France called Ars when a young priest named Jean (John) Marie Vianney arrived there 20 years later, in 1818.
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