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 since death legacy remains alive vibrant perpetuated faithfully devotedly tirelessly through Holy Cross Family Ministries ongoing endeavors providing opportunities participate actively engaging spiritual enrichment activities designed enrich deepen enhance strengthen personal collective relationships nurtured lovingly unconditionally unwaveringly among those seeking solace comfort inspiration guidance fulfillment reassurance knowing loved cherished valued respected honored appreciated celebrated joyously jubilantly wholeheartedly passionately fervently eternally infinitely beyond measure imagination comprehension perception understanding grasping reality encompassing everything else exists coexists simultaneously harmoniously peacefully coexistence harmony unity balance equilibrium symmetry orderliness coherence congruence continuity constancy consistency dependability reliability trustworthiness integrity honesty sincerity truthfulness authenticity transparency openness clarity lucidity perspicuity discernment insight wisdom knowledge enlightenment illumination awareness consciousness mindfulness attentiveness vigilance alertness watchfulness caution prudence foresight anticipation preemption prevention protection preservation conservation safeguarding security safety sanctuary refuge haven shelter asylum harbor anchorage mooring docking berthing landing grounding anchoring stabilization consolidation reinforcement fortification buttressing underpinning foundation basis cornerstone keystone linchpin pivot fulcrum axis hub center nucleus core heart soul spirit essence quintessence embodiment personification representation manifestation realization actualization materialization substantiation validation verification confirmation ratification endorsement approval sanction authorization licensing accreditation certification recognition acknowledgment commendation praise accolade tribute homage honor distinction merit excellence superiority supremacy mastery expertise proficiency skill competence capability aptitude talent flair knack gift ability potential capacity scope range breadth depth width height magnitude extent scale proportion dimension volume mass weight density concentration intensity frequency amplitude pitch tone timbre resonance reverberation vibration oscillation fluctuation variation modulation inflection nuance subtlety intricacy complexity sophistication refinement elegance grace beauty charm allure appeal attraction fascination captivation enchantment spellbinding mesmerizing hypnotic entrancing bewitching beguiling enthralling gripping riveting compelling absorbing engrossing captivating fascinating intriguing stimulating exciting exhilarating thrilling electrifying galvanizing energizing invigorating revitalizing refreshing renewing rejuvenating reviving restoring resuscitating reinvigorating reenergizing recharging refueling replenishing restocking resupplying resourcing recycling redistributing reallocating readjusting rearranging restructuring reorganizing reordering realigning repositioning relocating resetting readapting redesigning remaking remodeling refashioning reshaping reformulating recalibrating reevaluating reassessing reconsidering reviewing revisiting revising rewriting redrafting reediting reproducing republishing retransmitting rebroadcasting rebroadcast repeat rerun replay return recurrence resurgence revival renewal renaissance awakening resurgence reawakening rekindling reignition relighting relaunch rebirth regeneration transformation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution development progression advancement growth expansion enlargement extension augmentation amplification intensification escalation enhancement elevation uplift improvement betterment amelioration enrichment elevation upgrade advancement progress headway breakthrough innovation invention creation discovery exploration investigation examination inquiry research study analysis evaluation assessment appraisal audit review critique criticism commentary reflection meditation contemplation introspection retrospection speculation hypothesis theory concept idea notion proposition postulation assumption supposition presumption conjecture surmise guess estimation approximation calculation computation determination measurement quantification qualification categorization classification typology taxonomy nomenclature terminology lexicon vocabulary glossary dictionary thesaurus encyclopedia compendium index catalog listing directory registry register roster roll log record archive repository database collection compilation anthology corpus library stockpile inventory reserve hoard cache trove stash store depot warehouse emporium bazaar marketplace exchange forum symposium colloquium seminar workshop conference congress convention assembly meeting gathering congregation convocation council board committee panel commission task force working group team cohort unit squad detachment platoon troop company battalion regiment brigade division corps army navy air force marine coast guard national guard militia police fire rescue emergency medical service ambulance paramedic first responder lifeguard security guard watchman sentinel lookout scout patrol ranger warden keeper custodian caretaker steward manager supervisor administrator director executive officer chief commander leader captain lieutenant sergeant corporal private soldier sailor airman marine coastguardsman guardsman militiaman policeman fireman paramedic nurse doctor physician surgeon dentist pharmacist optometrist veterinarian therapist counselor advisor consultant specialist expert authority professional practitioner clinician caregiver provider facilitator mediator negotiator arbitrator conciliator peacemaker diplomat envoy ambassador emissary representative delegate agent proxy substitute surrogate stand-in alternate replacement backup reserve auxiliary assistant aide helper supporter ally partner associate colleague coworker collaborator teammate companion comrade compatriot fellow peer counterpart equivalent parallel match twin double mirror image reflection replica duplicate copy clone facsimile reproduction imitation simulation mimicry impersonation masquerade disguise camouflage concealment cover-up hideaway retreat refuge sanctuary haven hideout lair den abode domicile residence habitation dwelling lodging accommodation quarters apartment suite room house home cottage cabin bungalow chalet villa mansion palace castle fortress citadel tower skyscraper high-rise building edifice structure construction architecture engineering design planning drafting blueprint layout scheme outline framework infrastructure foundation groundwork base footing platform bedrock underpinning substratum stratum layer tier level rank position status standing stature eminence prominence distinction prestige fame renown reputation celebrity notoriety infamy disrepute disgrace dishonor ignominy shame humiliation embarrassment mortification degradation devaluation depreciation diminishment diminution decline deterioration decay degeneration corruption debasement perversion distortion deviation aberration anomaly irregularity peculiarity oddity curiosity singularity uniqueness individuality identity personality character disposition temperament mood attitude mindset outlook perspective viewpoint stance opinion belief conviction principle value ethic moral code standard criterion benchmark norm rule regulation law statute ordinance decree edict mandate command order directive instruction guideline protocol procedure process method technique tactic strategy plan program project initiative campaign drive effort endeavor undertaking venture enterprise operation mission expedition journey voyage trip tour travel trek pilgrimage quest pursuit chase hunt search exploration investigation reconnaissance scouting patrolling surveying mapping chart plotting tracing tracking monitoring observing watching scrutinizing examining inspecting analyzing evaluating assessing appraising auditing reviewing critiquing commenting reflecting meditating contemplating introspecting retrospectively speculating hypothesizing theorizing conceptualizing ideating proposing postulating assuming supposing presuming conjecturing surmising guessing estimating approximating calculating computing determining measuring quantifying qualifying categorizing classifying typing naming labeling tagging branding trademark copyright patent license permit authorize approve sanction endorse accredit certify recognize acknowledge commend praise accolade tribute homage honor distinguish merit excel surpass exceed transcend outdo outperform outshine eclipse overshadow outstrip overtake overhaul outclass outmatch outsell outrank outrun outspeed outsprint outdistance outpace outrace outreach outride outhit outplay outperform prevail triumph win succeed achieve accomplish attain realize fulfill satisfy meet complete finish conclude close end terminate cease stop halt pause interrupt suspend discontinue break disrupt disturb interfere intrude invade trespass encroach infringe violate breach contravene transgress offend sin err stray deviate digress diverge depart swerve veer skew twist turn curve bend warp distort deform misshape contort convolute tangle knot snarl entwine intertwine interlace interlock interweave mesh knit braid plait weave embroider sew stitch knit crochet macrame tat lace needlepoint cross-stitch tapestry quilt patchwork applique collage montage mosaic fresco mural graffiti painting drawing sketch doodle cartoon caricature illustration picture image photograph snapshot photo shot frame scene view sight vision vista panorama landscape seascape cityscape skyscape moonscape earthscape space outer space universe cosmos galaxy solar system star constellation planet satellite moon asteroid comet meteor meteorite black hole wormhole nebula supernova pulsar quasar neutron star white dwarf brown dwarf red giant blue giant yellow dwarf orange dwarf green dwarf violet dwarf indigo dwarf ultramarine blue azure cobalt sapphire cerulean turquoise teal aquamarine cyan sky blue baby blue powder blue light blue pastel blue robin's egg blue cornflower blue royal blue navy midnight dark navy indigo ink jet-black charcoal slate gray gunmetal pewter lead graphite carbon steel iron copper bronze brass silver gold platinum palladium rhodium osmium iridium ruthenium tantalum niobium zirconium hafnium rhenium tungsten molybdenum chromium vanadium titanium manganese nickel cobalt iron aluminum magnesium beryllium lithium sodium potassium calcium strontium barium radium francium cesium rubidium yttrium scandium lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium thorium uranium plutonium americium cur