from france

France

It is not lost on me that prayer was the principal force for Venerable Patrick Peyton, who became known as "The Rosary Priest." All the famous statements of evangelization that Patrick Peyton proclaimed with great energy and enthusiasm are attributed to prayer. These include: “The family that prays together stays together,” “Try prayer! It works,” “The world at prayer is the world at peace,” and “A powerful prayer is in your hands.”

It is fair to say that Pope Francis has clearly captured the imagination of Venerable Patrick Peyton, who always envisioned the whole world on its knees, praying the Holy Rosary in the context of family—a practice he experienced growing up in his own family. Peyton often mentioned that he grew up watching his family pray together every evening, reciting the Holy Rosary. I believe it was through this experience that he was inspired to coin the saying, “The family that prays together stays together.” For him, this was the source of peace, unity in the human family, and growth in faith.

For me, prayer has always breathed new life into the Peyton Ministry across the 28 countries where we serve families and beyond. I am delighted to see the Holy Father, Pope Francis, embrace this in such a special way.

Over the years, we have been nourished by this fruit of faith, and God has helped us strengthen the spiritual well-being of families by encouraging daily family prayer. We have realized that this small yet essential unit of society, the family, is transformed through the simple yet profound act of praying together, especially the Holy Rosary, as well as participating in the sacraments and reaching out to care for the poor. Worshiping God and engaging in evangelization through social media, TV, and radio programs have also played a crucial role.

During my pastoral ministry as a priest, I have listened to families in East Africa and here in France testify that they have ended their days with more prayer after dinner by praying the Holy Rosary, which they have found meditative and calming to their anxieties—a better way to conclude the day. They have also shared how this daily practice has brought peace to their homes. Some families have developed the habit of going before the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. The fruits of prayer have been abundant, as many families are now more alive in their faith, contributing to the care of the poor, or reaching out to other struggling families, fostering the realization of God’s glory within the family.

It’s interesting to reflect on how modern communication technology has led to a drift away from personal prayer, with some people even avoiding congregational prayer gatherings in favor of readily available, attractive media. At the age of 87, the Holy Father is not someone who uses a lot of communication technology, but he is certainly aware of its prevalence and the dangers it can pose. Five years ago, he noted that in the face of communication technology, we must especially cultivate the virtue of hope in our prayer life. Today, in both our families and workplaces, we have entered an age of immediate gratification—instant information, instant entertainment. If I want to know something, I just Google it. If I want entertainment, I press a button and there it is. However, the Holy Father reminds us, quite correctly, that our spiritual life cannot grow in the same way. We need to be steadfast in prayer because we belong to God, and He is the only one who can restore us when all else fails.

I’ll close with the testimony of Fr. George Paquet, from the Society of Missionaries of Africa, who was a missionary in Uganda and Tanzania for more than 15 years. After learning that Holy Cross Family Ministries was active in France, he invited us to organize a day of prayer for a group of seniors, focused on reflection on the Blessed Mother and the Holy Rosary. Fr. Paquet shared that he left Bukoba, Tanzania, in 2018 when his health was failing. At just 53 years old, he felt as though he was no longer useful to the Church, especially in his mission work.

He recalled the words of Patrick Peyton, "The powerful prayer is in your hands," during his flight back to France and immediately began praying his old Rosary, which he had received from Family Rosary in Fort Portal, Uganda, many years ago. Upon his arrival in Toulouse, France, he was taken straight to the hospital, but that very evening, he felt an abnormal blood circulation in his legs and body—something he had not felt for eight months.

He remembered that he had prayed to "Mary of Patrick Peyton." Doctors later found that he did not have the serious illness that had been initially diagnosed, and after two weeks, he returned to his priestly duties in Bukoba, Tanzania, as usual. During a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, he asked the entire congregation to stand and pray the Rosary for those seeking healing from various illnesses. This lengthy and inspiring prayer was said together at the altar, with everyone standing.

Praying the Rosary together with Family Rosary France forged a deep connection for Fr. Paquet, demonstrating that prayer keeps us connected to our personal needs, whether we are seeking healing from cancer or other physical illnesses, or looking for solutions to the struggles we face in life. Prayer should not be viewed as just a routine or an obligation to be fulfilled. Every time we pray, we enter a deeper relationship with our Creator—something capable of transforming our very existence.

As Pope Francis announces this special Year of Prayer, I believe it should become an integral part of family formation. I encourage families around the world, through the example set by parents, to take personal and family prayer seriously, regardless of the distractions posed by modern technology.

-Rev. Richard Sserugo, C.S.C National Director