World at Prayer blog from Family Rosary - Reflections of Family and Faith

Charles Borromeo | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | family unity

Family Unity Made Possible By Prayer

By: Father Charlie McCoy, C.S.C. November 4th, 2026

At the age of 24, young Charles Borromeo faced a crucial choice. He came from a rich and powerful noble family. As the younger of two sons, he had been set on the path to the priesthood a few years earlier. But in this crucial year, his older brother died, leaving the noble title and wealth to him, and with it, the family expectation that he would forego the priesthood, marry, and produce sons to carry on the family name. Charles instead chose to forego title, fortune, and family and continue on the path to priesthood, a decision that would impact not only his life, but also the entire history of the Church, as he soon would take the lead in implementing reforms dictated by the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation. Later in life, Charles Borromeo, then Archbishop of Milan, provided guidance for Catholics in Elizabethan England who faced their own life-or-death choice between their Catholic Faith and their obedience to the queen. When Jesus speaks about having to hate mom and dad, wife and kids, brothers and sisters to become his disciple, He’s not encouraging us to take the initiative to be controversial or destructive.

Is It Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath?

By: Father Fred Jenga, C.S.C. October 30th, 2026

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus performed seven healing miracles on the Sabbath. You would think that a man with such a record of helping people regain their health and their lives would receive much appreciation and love for what he had done. It was not so as we reflect on the gospels. To the Pharisees and the Scribes, that was strong enough evidence to show that Jesus was a dangerous, irreligious, and law-breaking character they had to take down at the earliest opportunity they could find. To the Pharisees interpretation of the law of God, no work was permitted on the Sabbath, and healing on the Sabbath was work, therefore it was a form of breaking the Law of God.

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Catholic Faith | Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | saints

Finding Strength in the Lord

By: Father David Marcham October 29th, 2026

St. Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with the bottom line: “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.” He was helping them to be in the battle of life that we’re all a part of. As I reflected on this and the strong metaphorical speech that follows, I was reminded of growing up as a Boston Bruins ice hockey fanatic.

Interpreting the Present Time

By: Father Fred Jenga, C.S.C. October 23rd, 2026

Human history tells us that for years human beings relied on a reading and interpretation of nature for their own survival. People relied on reading nature for navigation, for agricultural work, for healthcare management, for military campaigns, for worship. For instance, parents knew that when the skin, the hair or the eyes of their babies changed in a certain manner, the babies needed to be treated with a specific herb to improve their health. Farmers knew that when birds started making their nests, or the squirrels started gathering nuts, it meant the end of one season and the arrival of new season. They acted accordingly. Humanity has survived over the years through careful reading and interpretation of nature.

The Rosary: A Weapon of Peace

By: Father Charlie McCoy, C.S.C. October 22nd, 2026

On this day when our ministry is celebrating the blessing of our Global Rosary for Peace, our readings at Mass proclaim to us messages both uplifting in their affirmation and almost shocking in their challenge. Today’s passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians begins with a beautiful image of his prayer on behalf of humanity, united globally as one family: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims the worldwide scope of His mission: I have come to set the world on fire!

Living the Faith We Profess

By: Father David Marcham October 15th, 2026

Have you ever noticed how much we like to build memorials and put up signs honoring people? We put up monuments, dedicate buildings, and preserve the memories of those who have gone before us. And, there’s something good about honoring those who made a difference in our lives and those who came before us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges the scribes and scholars of the law, when He says, “You build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed.”