Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Father Patrick Peyton, known for the phrases "The family that prays together stays together" and "A world at prayer is a world at peace," has left a lasting impact on Catholic communities worldwide. These sayings have been popular for 80 years, promoting prayer as a solution to conflict both within families and globally.

Father Peyton was a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross, renowned for his promotion of the family rosary. His influence extended through media, including radio and television, during the latter half of the 20th century. Unlike Archbishop Fulton Sheen, another prominent media figure of the time, Father Peyton often worked behind the scenes. He hosted a radio program for over two decades and produced numerous films and TV programs through Family Theater Productions.

Born in Carracastle, County Mayo, Ireland, on January 9, 1909, Father Peyton was one of nine children in a devout farming family. Despite challenges such as his father's asthma limiting work opportunities, young Patrick contributed to farm duties while maintaining a strong prayer life influenced by his parents' daily rosary rituals.

In 1928, Patrick and his brother Thomas immigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Both soon pursued religious vocations with the Congregation of Holy Cross at Notre Dame. During seminary training, Patrick contracted tuberculosis but recovered unexpectedly after praying to Mary. This experience fueled his dedication to spreading devotion to the rosary.

After ordination in 1941 alongside his brother due to Vatican permission compensating for lost time from illness, Father Peyton began the Family Rosary Crusade seven months later. His goal was to address American family breakdowns through prayer and express gratitude for his health recovery.

By 1943, he had secured a radio slot in Albany for reciting the rosary weekly. Two years later, he expanded nationally with "The Catholic Hour" on Mutual Broadcasting Network featuring Cardinal Francis Spellman and Bing Crosby as guests. The show achieved great success despite limited preparation.

Celebrity involvement became integral to Father Peyton's crusade. In Hollywood, he gained support from stars like Loretta Young and Gregory Peck. Actress Jane Wyman remarked on his persuasive nature: “Somehow when Father Peyton asked you for something there was no way to say no.”

Father Peyton's media efforts included launching "Family Theater of the Air" in 1947 with nonsectarian dramas promoting family prayer values—a venture embraced globally over time thanks partly due major financial backing by J Peter Grace who helped establish Family Prayer Foundation supporting these initiatives financially.

International Rosary Crusades marked significant milestones throughout Father Peyton’s ministry from mid-1950s onward across continents gathering large crowds participating enthusiastically underlining Marian devotion messages shared fervently wherever traveled including U.S stadiums filled capacity audiences eager hear him speak about importance maintaining strong familial bonds via regular communal prayers offered up collectively amongst themselves alike regardless faith backgrounds held personally individually otherwise represented outwardly publicly generally speaking overall sense united purpose driving forward ongoing mission evermore continued even long past lifetime concluded inevitably ultimately eventually culminating final resting place Easton Massachusetts upon passing away June third nineteen ninety-two aged eighty-three followed opening canonization cause two thousand one culminating Pope Francis declaring venerable December two thousand seventeen today thirty-two years 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