Pray25: For God so Loved the World
Join us in prayer every day this Advent season as we reflect on John 3:16 and encounter God’s love. We'll be guided by Jonathan Roumie, Bear Grylls, Sr. Agnus Dei, Jeff Cavins, Francis Chan, Kevin James, Fr. Chrysostom Baer, and many more guests. Together we'll journey through the powerful book "A Severe Mercy," meditate on Scripture, and hear inspiring real-life stories of encounters with God’s love. Plus, we’ll pray with some amazing music from incredible artists – Gwen Stefani, Lauren Daigle, Matt Maher, and Sarah Kroger!
22 sessions
1Unnameable SomethingWelcome to the first day of Pray25! Today, Jonathan Roumie introduces our theme for Advent, and Bear Grylls reads excerpts from “A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Vanauken. We'll then end our time by praying the Litany of Let Love.
Day 1: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls12 min
2The Shining BarrierIn this second session, we'll begin our journey through “A Severe Mercy” and learn about the incredible and often extreme nature of Sheldon and Davy’s relationship.
Day 2: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls15 min
3OxfordToday Jonathan will continue to guide us through Davy and Sheldon's story as they set off for Oxford and as God continues to pursue their hearts. Then Sr. Agnus Dei of the Sisters of Life, the author of the Litany of Let Love, will lead us in prayer.
Day 3: Jonathan, Bear, & Sr. Agnus Dei14 min
4Story of LoveIn this session, we’ll be joined by Grammy award-winning artist and songwriter, Lauren Daigle, who will share her own incredible story of encountering God’s love. (Please Note: This story contains a moment of suicidal ideation.)
Day 4: Lauren Daigle11 min
5Ephesians 1Today we’ll reflect with Jeff Cavins and Francis Chan on the greatest news on the planet: that God loves you. In this session, Jeff will introduce Francis, and then Francis will walk us through Chapter 1 of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
Day 5: Jeff Cavins & Francis Chan18 min
6Divine IntimacyWe’ll reflect on the call to sanctity with Kevin James, Jonathan Roumie, and Fr. Chrysostom Baer as they discuss a reading from “Divine Intimacy,” a classic Carmelite book of meditations.
Day 6: Kevin James, Jonathan, & Fr. Baer16 min
7A House DividedIn this second week, we’ll focus on the theme of conversion as we follow Davy and Sheldon's journey at Oxford and see how relentlessly God pursues their hearts. We'll then close with the Litany of Let Love.
Day 7: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls13 min
8ConversionIn this session, we’ll witness how Sheldon continues to wrestle with Christian belief and its implications for his own life. Then we'll end our time by praying the Litany of Let Love.
Day 8: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls15 min
9The Counter AttackIn today's session, we’ll accompany Sheldon and Davy as they begin their new lives of faith and realize that simply having faith does not ensure things will be easy. Sr. Agnus Dei will then offer a reflection and lead us in praying the Litany of Let Love.
Day 9: Jonathan, Bear, & Sr. Agnus Dei15 min
10Story of LoveToday we’ll hear the story of Fr. David Santos – a priest, pastor, and army veteran – who shares his profound experience with God’s love through the call to be a “Soldier of Christ.”
Day 10: Fr. David Santos15 min
11Ephesians 2On this Friday, we’ll meditate on God’s love once again with Jeff and Francis. Francis will walk us through one of his favorite Scripture passages (Ephesians 2:1-10), and Jeff will close us in prayer.
Day 11: Jeff Cavins & Francis Chan19 min
12Divine IntimacyWe’ll reflect on mortification and the call to evangelize with Kevin James, Jonathan Roumie, and Fr. Baer as they converse about another reading from “Divine Intimacy.”
Day 13: Kevin James, Jonathan, & Fr. Baer19 min
13Thy Will Be DoneIn this third week of Pray25, we’ll be focusing on the theme of surrender. We’ll dive back into “A Severe Mercy” and see how Davy and Sheldon reckon with a heartbreaking new reality. We’ll then conclude by praying the Litany of Let Love.
Day 14: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls15 min
14The Deathly SnowsIn our session today, Jonathan and Bear will chronicle the sacred final moments of Davy’s life. We'll then conclude by praying the Litany of Let Love.
Day 15: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls14 min
15The Way of GriefToday we’ll meet Sheldon in the throes of grief, as he struggles to make sense of how a good God could allow Davy’s death to happen. Then Sr. Agnus will share with us her own journey through grief and lead us in the Litany of Let Love. (Please note: this session includes mention and description of an abortion.)
Day 16: Jonathan, Bear, & Sr. Agnus Dei21 min
16Story of LoveIn today’s session, we’ll hear the story of Darlene Kearns, a wife, mother, & grandmother from New Jersey. She’ll share how death itself led her to new life in Christ. (Please Note: This session contains a description of blood and a story of loss.)
Day 17: Darlene Kearns15 min
17Ephesians 3On this last Friday of Pray25, Jeff and Francis will close our reflections on St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Francis will share his own experience of God’s fatherly love and guide us through Chapter 3 verse by verse.
Day 18: Jeff Cavins & Francis Chan21 min
18Day 19: Come Thou Long Expected JesusToday we’ll join Catholic artists Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger as they introduce and help us pray with an original setting of the Advent hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
Matt Maher & Sarah Kroger15 min
19Divine IntimacyOn this last Sunday of Advent, we’ll join Kevin James, Jonathan Roumie, and Fr. Baer as they have a final discussion on a reading from “Divine Intimacy.”
Day 20: Kevin James, Jonathan, & Fr. Baer14 min
20Heaven is Our HomeIn these final days of Pray25, we’ll be focusing on the theme of triumph. Jonathan will guide us through Sheldon's grief as Sheldon conducts an "Illumination of the Past” that ultimately leads to a revelation he never saw coming. We'll then close with the Litany of Let Love.
Day 21: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls14 min
21The Severe MercyIn today's session, we’ll come to the end of “A Severe Mercy” as Sheldon receives a powerful letter from C.S. Lewis that completely changes his perspective. We’ll then close with the Litany of Let Love.
Day 22: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls11 min
22ChristmasOn the last day of this Pray25, we will hear about what happened to Sheldon after “A Severe Mercy” and then reflect together on God’s incredible promises in John 3:16.
Day 23: Jonathan Roumie & Bear Grylls9 min