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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
Father Wilson Thoppilan, C.S.C., a priest of The Congregation of Holy Cross and Executive Director of Family Rosary Crusade Philippines, provides today's Homily Video Reflection. In addition to the homily video, we've included questions to encourage family discussion on this thought-provoking topic.
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
Father Aji Paul, C.S.C., a priest of The Congregation of Holy Cross from India, provides today's Homily Video Reflection.
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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.
Expressions like wow and whoa convey feelings of surprise, wonder, and great acclaim, and are articulated particularly when we come across a fascinating building, a great piece of art, architecture, scenery, or a grand monument. When we scan through some of the fine buildings, monuments, or structures around the globe, we find that many of these majestic edifices and constructions are tombs or burial places.
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Monica was unhappily married to Patrick, a pagan who only converted on his deathbed. Her son Augustine abandoned the Catholic faith for a cult, engaged in a life of promiscuity, fathered a son out of wedlock, and resisted the pull of her tearful prayers and relentless entreaties to abandon his dissolute life and return to the Church. Monica herself became addicted to wine and only recovered by God’s grace. The great Saint Ambrose of Milan’s preaching proved irresistible to Augustine, and he reverted to the Church, proving that a mother’s persistent prayers can overcome all resistance by God’s grace.
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Learn more about our faith | Why pray?
Quite a few years ago, I walked into the restaurant's bar section to pick up a takeout meal. Several guys older than I was were sitting at the bar, and I said hello. I got a lukewarm response, but undaunted, I introduced myself and asked if they went to the nearby church. One of the guys said, “No way, Father.” I asked him why, and he responded, “Well, my brother, who is one of your ushers, is one of the biggest hypocrites I know, and he and I don’t get along.” …Being a new priest at the time, this was a new one. So I simply said, “I’m sorry to hear about your brother, but maybe you could come to a different Mass. Besides, we’re all works in progress.”
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Saint John, one of Jesus's twelve apostles, is known as the Apostle of Love because his writings mainly focus on love. According to a legend from the early church, Saint John was the only one among the twelve apostles who lived to an old age. In his later years, he experienced failing health, including diminishing eyesight and mental faculties. Saint John's mind had deteriorated to the point where he could only speak five words, a single sentence that he would repeat over and over. Legend has it that every Sunday, Saint John would address the congregation that had gathered for worship in the church at Ephesus, where he spent the last years of his life. Even though the congregation already knew what he would say, Saint John would stand and look over the assembly. Then, the elderly apostle would speak five simple words: "My children, love one another."
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