x Close
World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne who were the grandparents of Jesus. Yes, Jesus had grandparents too! These were the parents of Mary. Today we remember all our grandparents both living and deceased, that God blesses them and gives them good rest. There is actually a global Catholic Grandparents’ Association with proposed activities and prayers that they can use in fulfilling their role as ‘grandpa’ and ‘grandma.’
Share
Celebrating family life | Learn more about our faith
Today, we hear the prophet Jeremiah’s response to God building him up to go out on mission. Jeremiah says, “Ah, Lord God! I know not how to speak; I am too young.” Those last words, “I am too young,” are what most of us have said when we didn’t think we could do something, whether we were referring to chronological age, or experience, or even talent level.
Share
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.
Can you remember your last life-wake-up call? They come in all forms: it could be a failing grade in math class; a conversation with your boss, husband, or wife; or a close call on the road, to name a few. But then there are the wake-up calls like King Hezekiah received.
Share
Today’s gospel antiphon, “If today, you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” is one of those instructions that can really cause you to reflect … not just on how difficult it is to understand what a Boston-trained priest is saying, but more importantly, on the state of your heart.
Share
Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Sometimes, like the people in the time of Hosea, we need to have the Lord call out to us to come back to Him to change our ways with the promise of a better life. The Lord speaks to us through His Word (as we have just heard proclaimed), our times of silent prayer and meditation, our times in Eucharistic Adoration, and all forms of prayer, including our meditations upon the Rosary. The Lord can certainly speak to us through the words and actions of others. On Wednesday afternoon, as I stood impatiently waiting for someone to come to the coffee shop counter to take my order, I turned around to see a young man in line behind me. I asked if they still took your order there or if you needed to use the tablet on the counter.
Share
Healing the family | Learn more about our faith
The Scriptures and Church tradition use many images to describe God, reflecting His infinite nature of love. Similarly, various images depict the people of God whom God has drawn to Himself throughout salvation history. Prophet Hosea paints another beautiful metaphor of God as a parent to a wayward child. Hosea speaks of God's love for Israel: "I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them in my arms and fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; I stooped to feed my child." In the year 2018, the school where I worked suffered the loss of a 6-year-old child.
Share
