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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Catholic Family Fun | Family Activities | rosary
Summer is here! Discover nine engaging ways to nurture family bonds and faith while creating cherished memories together, away from screens and distractions. A friend and I went out to dinner last weekend, and as we sat at an outside table chatting, we noticed a family of four at a table a few feet away. It was a mother, father, a daughter who looked to be about 14, and a son who looked to be about 11. All except the father had their faces buried in their phones. For nearly 15 minutes, he sat there forlornly just looking around. But then he too pulled out his phone. It made me incredibly sad, for it was a beautiful night and all this family could think about was escaping to social media or texting. As Ecclesiastes 3 teaches, There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
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Contemplative Prayer | Family Activities | rosary
Women who like to pair Scripture with praying the Rosary will appreciate the new book of Rosary meditations by Catholic Mom contributing writer Margaret Rash. Readers won't need to hunt down the Scripture readings, because they're all right there in the book. That means you won't have to juggle your Bible and your rosary beads and your book of meditations.
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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.
Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Motherhood | everyday miracles | rosary
Some people believe the scent of roses when no flowers are present is thought to be a sign that God’s presence is with us or that a blessing from God is imminent. This same occurrence with the smell of roses has often been associated with miracles and encounters with Marian apparitions. Mary is sometimes referred to as “Our Lady of the Roses,” perhaps because the name Rosary means “a garland of roses,” or perhaps she is pictured surrounded by these beautiful flowers. St. Juan Diego, in the 1530s, was asked by Mary to gather roses to prove her presence to the bishop since it was in the middle of winter when no roses would be in bloom. He climbed a hilltop and found them blooming abundantly and when opening his coat to show the roses to the bishop, the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe was present.
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Almsgiving | Christmas Season | Feast of St. Stephen | rosary
If you are someone who lends your favorite books to family members or friends only to find that the loan has become permanent, or sends thank you notes and birthday cards only to realize with a heart that sits somewhere between resignation and a slight ache that not everyone remembers your birthday or sends you messages of thanks, then the Church’s teaching on almsgiving and charity will be a source of much consolation—for in essence it is that only what is given away will be ours to keep. St Augustine places this teaching in the mouth of Christ as Augustine speaks of this to his congregation: “…on earth, my members were suffering, my members were in need. If you gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head….I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury.” Then Christ laments to those who have not given to the poor and suffering, “But you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore you have found nothing in my presence” (Sermon 18, 4.).
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Blessed Virgin Mary | prayer | rosary
I was introduced to the Blessed Mother almost thirty years ago before I became Catholic, while working at a psychiatric hospital as a mental health technician. My supervisor at the time had noticed that the demands of the stressful job were taking their toll on me and offered the “Hail Mary” prayer as a way to ease some of the tension in my life. “I am not trying to push anything on you,” she explained, “I just think you may find it soothing and relaxing.” Having grown up Episcopalian, I had heard of the prayer, but never gave it any serious consideration. Nevertheless, given the state of my life at the time, I was happy to give it a try.
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Lenten plans | family prayer | rosary
Every month, I set goals for myself. Sitting down and writing out what I want to accomplish focuses me and helps me to juggle the various aspects of my life—one step in moving toward an often elusive work-life blend. Often, I overshoot. Sometimes, the balls I'm juggling all come crashing to the ground.
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