Last year God put it on my heart to pray for the Church and I did and asked him what should be my prayer focus this year.
Last night I watched two episodes of a programme called '24 hours in Police custody' where the cameras follow teams of police officers from the beginning of a case to the charging of the perpetrator.
Both episodes I watched last night were cases where tiny babies had suffered catastrophic injuries from one or both of their parents. One baby who didn't die suffered brain injuries so devastating that he would need care for the rest of his life.
It made me angry and it made me sad and has prompted my belief that my prayers this year should be for families. How has family life so disintegrated, how has it come to the stage where fathers, who are meant to love and protect the children are the ones who are causing such harm to their little ones. it is something we hear about so often here in the UK.
How can the Church help these families? I believe that family life is important to God, that earthly parents are to be loving, and protective. I know it is the enemy who has caused this shift away from decency just as it the enemy who is attempting to destroy the Church.
I invite all those who feel led to join me this year to pray for family life in general or for individual families who may be experiencing difficulties.
Last night I watched two episodes of a programme called '24 hours in Police custody' where the cameras follow teams of police officers from the beginning of a case to the charging of the perpetrator.
Both episodes I watched last night were cases where tiny babies had suffered catastrophic injuries from one or both of their parents. One baby who didn't die suffered brain injuries so devastating that he would need care for the rest of his life.
It made me angry and it made me sad and has prompted my belief that my prayers this year should be for families. How has family life so disintegrated, how has it come to the stage where fathers, who are meant to love and protect the children are the ones who are causing such harm to their little ones. it is something we hear about so often here in the UK.
How can the Church help these families? I believe that family life is important to God, that earthly parents are to be loving, and protective. I know it is the enemy who has caused this shift away from decency just as it the enemy who is attempting to destroy the Church.
I invite all those who feel led to join me this year to pray for family life in general or for individual families who may be experiencing difficulties.
