Patrick Peyton (1909–1992)

ather Patrick Peyton, CSC (1909–1992), was a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross who learned the value of praying the Rosary from his humble Irish Catholic family. Naturally shy, “The Rosary Priest,” eventually went on to pray with 28 million people through large Rosary rallies he organized.

Peyton immigrated to the United States in 1928 and entered the Holy Cross seminary at the University of Notre Dame in 1932. After a miraculous healing from tuberculosis that he attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Mother, Peyton dedicated his life to spreading devotion to Mary, especially through the Rosary. Peyton founded Family Rosary (1942) and Family Theater Productions (1947), which continue today under Holy Cross Family Ministries.

He was a pioneer in using the media for evangelization, including radio, movies, advertising, and television to spread the gospel with the help of famous celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Ronald Reagan, and Lucille Ball. Peyton produced more than eight-hundred radio and television programs to inspire and educate families on the power of prayer and the Rosary.

Peyton served as a Holy Cross priest for fifty-one years. He is known for the inspirational phrases “The family that prays together stays together” and “A world at prayer is a world at peace.”

Peyton’s Cause for Sainthood began in July 1997. He was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2017.