His “Rosary Rallies” in California drew tens of thousands in the 1950’s, ’60’s and ’70’s.
In 1945, the immigrant Irish Catholic priest cold-called Bing Crosby, and asked him to help create a radio program to talk about prayer. Bing, along with many other big named stars, said yes, igniting a family and faith-based production company that still exists today in Hollywood.
That priest, Father Patrick Peyton, is now on the road to sainthood, having touched millions of lives, and influencing many others who only heard the phrase he coined — “the family that prays together stays together.”
PRAY: The Story of Patrick Peyton, an inspiring documentary premiering in Anaheim on Oct. 16, chronicles the extraordinary life of Father Patrick Peyton, the clergyman known the world over as “The Rosary Priest”, who not only produced hundreds of broadcasts, but traveled the world speaking to crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands at a time.
From his humble beginnings as a cathedral janitor in Scranton, PA, Father Peyton became a media pioneer, convincing celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, Loretta Young, Jack Benny, Maureen O’Hara, Kirk Douglas, Raymond Burr, Shirley Temple, William Shatner, Bob Newhart, Regis Philbin, James Dean and Princess Grace to join him on radio and TV in the promotion of prayer. Family Theater Productions in Hollywood produced 900 radio and TV programs that featured hundreds of entertainers, and had more than 10,000 broadcasts.
The film opens on Oct. 16 in Anaheim at the Starlight Cinema City Theatres, 5635 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA.
To view the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/eS8G3c9CJds
To learn more, visit www.PrayTheFilm.com.
Full story at Patch.com.
That’s funny. I always assumed that Jack Benny was Jewish.
He was.
Why would the story make you think Jack Benny wasn’t? Those celebrities joined Father Peyton in promoting prayer.
I read: Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago on February 14, 1894… He was the son of Jewish immigrants Meyer Kubelsky (1864–1946) and Emma Sachs Kubelsky (1869–1917), sometimes called “Naomi.” It’s from the only somewhat reliable Wikipedia, but does anyone know if Mr. Benny became a Catholic?
Kirk Douglas was Jewish and I don’t think Jimmy Stewart and William Shatner were ever Catholic. And, I simply don’t know about the others.
Just Curious.
Curious,
True. That thought went through my mind. But a Catholic priest promoting prayer has the nuance that the prayer would have Catholic overtones. This, of course, doesn’t automatically follow. Either way, I’m glad that Jack Benny was involved because he’s probably my all-time favorite comedian.
Jack Benny — forever 39 — a concert violinist who would play like a beginner to make people laugh.
Anne TE,
Shortly after he died in 1974, a local TV station in Los Angeles began playing reruns of the Jack Benny Show in tribute. This is how I became a fan of the show. I was pleased to learn decades later that Johnny Carson was also a great admirer of the comedian.
Well I probably was way ahead of your time as I used to listen to “Jack Benny and Rochester”, “Gildersleeve”, “Tonto and the Lone Ranger” and “Inspector Hearthstone” on radio while doing my homework. That was back when I could study and do homework while solving a murder mystery all at the same time. Those days are long gone. (Laughter.) It seems my “attention span” is back to kindergarten.
Anne TE,
Yes, it looks like you have me beat by 15 to 20 years. Both my mother and my grandmother listened to Jack Benny on the radio. :)
Good actors and actresses always look for worthwhile drama projects, with good scripts and good directors. (And they also like to be well-paid!) Anyway– Fr. Peyton was well-respected, and was good at getting the best actors and actresses for his film projects– and made high-quality religious films, for his Family Theatre Productions! I recall many excellent Hollywood films of long ago, in which non-Catholic actors and actresses played roles of priests and nuns, even great saints! (And some great Catholic performers led very “naughty” lives, sadly, too!)
Maybe Fr. Peyton was a good influence, and helped some of the “naughty” Catholic Hollywood performers to repent and lead better lives!
I have found some of Fr Peytons rosariie prayers on youtube if anyone is interested.
What does one’s religion matter in this situation? Apparently people from many faiths significantly assisted in this effort.
I was a farm boy about 12 years old, about 9 miles from Crookston MN. In 1952 Ma, Pa and several of us (15 kids) piled in the 1946 Ford, drove to central park in Crookston for a Fr. Patrick Peyton rosary rally. The park was full of people, thousands, in this town about 9000 population. Our family had our picture taken saying the rosary in our house. The picture was in the Crookston Times. I’ve talked to several people but could never find out why Fr. Peyton came to this small place, knowing that he had TV and radio programs and filled stadiums across the world for his rosary rallies. I’ve never forgot, even the stone stuck between tire treads clicking on the streets and Pa stopped, I got out and found the stone.
Great story, happy memories, thanks for telling us.
In 1961, half a million people flocked to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, for Fr.
Patrick Peyton’s famed Rosary Crusade! I used to love all his excellent religious movies with Family Theatre Productions– he always had famous actors and actresses, and they did a terrific job! I thought his famed Rosary Pledges were a wonderful idea– and memorized his beautiful saying, “the family that prays together, stays together! And a world at prayer is a world at peace!” I have his wonderful autobiography, “All for Her,” and a book and recording of his Rosary recitation– very holy! How beautiful, that Our Blessed Mother cured him of TB– and he went on to fulfill his priestly vocation, and dedicated his life to her! Wonder if he will be made a Saint someday?? Wish I could see this movie, but it will not yet be shown in the Bay Area. Maybe I can order a DVD of it!
It should come out on a DVD later. If you cannot get it in the S.F. area you should be able to get it on line or at Our Lady of Peace Gift Shop in Santa Clara as they usually have all the latest Catholic DVD’s in their store. Right now if you want any other merchandise from OLP Store, you need to call or e-mail and make an appointment because of the COVID restrictions.
Love Our Lady of Peace. Great idea. Fr. Peyton also went and gave the homily at the final Mass, when the holy statue of Our Lady was installed, commissioned by the wonderful shrine rector,, Msgr. John Sweeney.
Well– my punctuation marks (exclamation points!) in my above original post, were all misunderstood– and were all completely removed! What is so “wrong” with expressing excitement– such as, “LOVE Our Lady of Peace!” Yes, I DO love her, and always have, and always will! (Now are you going to remove those exclamation points I just wrote? Why??)
Me too.
I hear it seems to be as good as ever there, even though I have not been on the grounds for some time. Whenever I wanted peace in my life, especially after being stressed out at my job, I would go there and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament, or say the Rosary while walking around the grounds near the statues, or go through the giftshop.
When Msg. Sweeney retired, just before he passed away, many testified at a meeting how they found peace there, too, and did not want any modernist changes after his retirement. They told stories of the miracles in their lives from going to Mass there.
I, too, haven’t been to Our Lady of Peace in a long tine– but I used to go there regularly, when I really needed special help from Our Blessed Mother– or to pray for a loved one with special needs, or for a sick or dying loved one. I always greatly appreciated the fine work of Msgr. Sweeney, and was so grateful I had the chance to express my appreciation to him, right before he passed away. I also went once, to see the bishop, by myself, to give him my perspective on the evils that local feminists were seeking to force on the Shrine– but although he listened patiently, he didn’t agree with me, naturally! Anyway– after Msgr. Sweeney’s passing, they were able to keep the Shrine intact, spiritually, and the feminists lost their battle.
Anon, I was at that meeting I mentioned shouting, “No more changes. No more changes, ” right along with the rest. I felt sorry for the English priest who was sent there to preside over the meeting as one younger man, who had young boys and was upset with something going on in the diocese, was about to go up and deck him, until some of the older gentlemen held him back.
May Fr. Sweeney, Fr. Warren, the Devlin brothers, Fr. Shoshida and all the rest of the good priests who were there and passed away, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.