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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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In 1174, Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on a 185-foot bell tower for the Cathedral in Pisa, Tuscany, in west-central Italy. There was just one little problem—even before it was completed, the builders discovered that the soil was much softer than anticipated and the whole structure began to tilt. The project lasted for 199 years and was plagued with interruptions, as engineers sought solutions to the leaning problem until they finally realized that nothing could be done to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa! The problem wasn't bad design, poor workmanship, or inferior materials. Instead, the issue was unstable sandy soil underneath the city of Pisa where the famous monument was built. Interestingly, the word "Pisa" means "Marshy Land," which explains the issue. This teaches us that a faulty foundation can cause problems not just in buildings but in our lives as well.
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Not too long ago, perhaps just over sixty years ago, in the United States, the pledge of allegiance and a prayer were part of the beginning of the day in public schools. Now, prayer is almost fully excluded, and the pledge of allegiance is a matter of debate.
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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.
In Singapore, there is a school program designed to assist children hospitalized or homebound due to illness. Special teachers are assigned to visit these children and help them keep up with their studies and school assignments.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
My reflection comes from the Second Book of Kings. In that Book, we have heard about King Ahab and his pagan wife Jezebel—who instigated the murder of many people. Today's First Reading continues with King Ahab and Jezebel dead and their daughter Athalia (who was evil and a pagan like her mother Jezebel) at the center of things.
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Today’s powerful Gospel verse raises two questions, one about the tail end of the Our Father and the other about not babbling like the pagans when we pray.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
As you might remember from Wednesday’s first reading, Elijah was the last prophet of God standing---when he challenged the people to choose between God and the pagan god Baal. Well, although he had faith, and God had rewarded it…things weren’t going so well, and today, he’s running for his life. How many times have we heard of prophets like Elijah or Jonah who’ve faced long odds and tried to outrun either the opposition or, at times, God’s mission for them?
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