World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | seasonal reflection
I have to tell you; there was quite a competition about who would have the honor of celebrating this Mass on St. Patrick’s Day. It was only settled by a DNA test showing I had the closest connection to St. Patrick, but not how you’d think.
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Celebrating family life | seasonal reflection
About this time of year, when our children were young, we would drive miles into the country to a Christmas tree farm to select a tree for the season’s celebration. The process blended careful analysis and exuberant impulsivity to find the “perfect tree.” Our children scampered down the rows of evergreens through acres of trees. They would ask many times, “What about this one?”
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We kayaked across Yellowstone’s Lewis Lake, up the Lewis River and halfway across Shoshone Lake to the campsite. Stepping out, stepping back, a different perspective unfolded as we celebrated the Eucharist on the shore. This gaze opened into infinity, finding and awakening vision: the faculty to be able to see and to understand, where sometimes only nature can reawaken this sense. At the same time, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, in a similar and complementary way awakens our vision, yet with even greater clarity and depth.
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Celebrating family life | seasonal reflection
Some days in the Liturgical season, by their cultural and religious nature, lend themselves better to celebrating as a family than others—such as Christmas and Easter. Yet, every Solemnity, Memorial, or Feast in the Catholic Church is worthy of acknowledging in some special way. For families, additional feast days can offer beautiful teachable moments and the creation of lifetime memories. This month, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, commemorating the entry of Mary into heaven—body and soul. The Assumption falls into the category of “Solemnity,” which means it is among the highest rank feast days celebrating a mystery of faith.
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On Ash Wednesday, Father Leo Polselli got us off to a great start! He used the image of millions of people gathering for a race, in our case, the Boston Marathon that takes place each springtime. He spoke of the excitement and energy exhibited as the starter’s gun fires and the runners surge past the starting line with the sole desire of completing the race to the best of their ability. For some,
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Holy lives of inspiration | seasonal reflection
Remember the I Love Lucy show? Remember Lucy and sidekick, Ethel, in the chocolate factory? And Lucy with a stout Italian peasant woman stomping grapes with their feet? Lucy and the woman end up wrestling to the bottom of the vat covered in purple grapes. Not just their feet but their whole bodies were covered in purple.
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