Introducing "The Rosary in Our Hands"

How’s your prayer life? Is it sporadic, on fire, barely started, or still at the "what is a prayer life?" stage? In my lifetime of practicing the Catholic faith, I have experienced all of the above and everything in between. I know I should pray, and I am fully aware of the blessing of regular prayer in my life, yet, some days, I am stuck!

Where do I begin, how long should I pray for, and what’s the best way to pray — simply wondering: What does one say to the God of the Universe? First and most importantly, there is no wrong way to pray, and gratefully, God, through the Church, has provided us with a plethora of prayer options. 

I seem to cycle through various practices throughout the year; I like to mix things up as well as recognize different seasons of life and the liturgical calendar lends itself to different types of prayer. The prayer devotion I discovered helps not only to jumpstart my prayer time but more importantly, organizes and enhances it, hands down, is the Rosary! The Rosary includes a profession of faith (Apostle’s Creed), the prayer Jesus gave us (Our Father), intercessory prayers to the Blessed Mother (Hail Mary), prayers of praise (Glory Be), and ongoing catechesis (reflecting on the Mysteries of the Rosary).

To encourage you (and your family) to embrace this powerful prayer devotion, Catholic Mom and Family Rosary will share 31 unique personal accounts of having “the Rosary in our hands" for the month of October! We hope you are not only inspired to pick up the Rosary more yourself but will also share your own Rosary experiences with us! 

Why October?

October is recognized as the “Month of the Rosary” because the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary occurring on October 7th. This feast was established by Pope St. Pius V in 1571 to commemorate the Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto, which he attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary through the praying of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII further promoted the Rosary and officially dedicated the entire month of October to it in 1884, encouraging the faithful to pray the Rosary daily. 

So, Who's the Guy in the Cover Photo?

That would be the founder of Family Rosary (which Catholic Mom is now a part of) and Family Theater: Venerable Patrick Peyton. Father Pat's miraculous recovery from tuberculosis and subsequent quest to do the will of the Blessed Mother, which is always to lead people closer to her Son, Jesus, is a legacy and mission we are proud to share and to continue! Here's the abridged version of his remarkable healing:  

As a young seminarian, Patrick Peyton, lay suffering from advanced tuberculosis, the doctors offered two options for treatment: risky surgery or prayer. In early October 1939, Father Cornelius Hagerty, C.S.C., came to visit and offered advice that would change Peyton's life forever:

"You have the Faith, Pat, but you're not using it. What she asks for and insists on, she obtains. She has never failed anyone who had recourse to her with faith and perseverance."

Father Hagerty also spoke of the Blessed Mother's intercession:

"If you believe 25%, that's what you will receive. Fifty — that's what you'll get. But if you believe 100% and you give it all to Mary to give to her son Jesus to be healed, that is what you'll receive."

Young Pat, desiring with his whole heart to continue his studies and serve the church as a missionary priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, turned to prayer. By October 31, Patrick began to feel his health return. From that day forward, he saw the Blessed Mother in a new light: how human, approachable, and sensitive she is to our needs.

"When I needed her and her power and her friendship, she didn't forget that ever since I had been a little child and could open my mouth, I had used that power to say the Rosary; so when I needed her friendship, she was glad to give it to me."

Blessed with a full recovery, Patrick Peyton was ordained on June 15, 1941, at the University of Notre Dame. Of that momentous day, he would say, "That day, I gave my heart and soul in love to Mary."    

Father Patrick would come to be known as the "Rosary Priest," traveling extensively across the world organizing Rosary rallies that brought together millions of people. In addition to leading the Rosary, Father Pat would take the opportunity to make impassioned pleas for families to come together every day in prayer, especially Rosary. His message, "The Family That Prays Together Stays Together," encapsulated his belief in the transformative power of prayer. Father Peyton emphasized the importance of family prayer, recognizing that daily prayer strengthened familial bonds and brought them closer to God. 

Venerable Patrick Peyton, known as "The Rosary Priest," devoted his priestly life to encouraging family prayer, especially the Rosary. This October, for the Month of the Holy Rosary, Family Rosary (an apostolate founded by Father Peyton) and Catholic Mom have teamed up for this daily series dedicated to the Rosary.