Friday, October 2, 2020

Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton (a review)


"The family that prays together stays together." 

As a child, I heard this adage many times, and it has stuck with me throughout the years. It wasn't until recently that I learned about the man who was known for preaching this motto: Father Patrick Peyton. This man entered America in the 1920s as a poor Irish immigrant, and wound up becoming known across the world for his dedication to family prayer and the Rosary. Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton, is a beautifully crafted, moving documentary that brings to life the story of Fr. Peyton and his legacy. 

Set against a backdrop of gorgeous visuals and music, Pray illustrates the people and places who were touched by Fr. Peyton. From small communities in America, to Hollywood, to countries across the world, Fr. Peyton's love for God gushed forth unreservedly as he spoke on the radio, organized public recitations of the Rosary, and spoke to massive crowds of people. Fr. Peyton had a deep belief that there was good in everybody, and he would work with all kinds of celebrities as he tried to promote the idea of family prayer to as many people as possible. I was astonished to learn that Fr. Peyton even worked with several famous celebrities, like Jimmy Stewart, Irene Dunne, and Bing Crosby. 

Besides discussing the various events in Fr. Peyton's life, this documentary also integrates testimonies by modern-day couples who have been impacted by the family prayer that Fr. Peyton so enthusiastically encouraged. The diverse families and stories featured illustrate just how life-changing praying together as a family can be. These stories show how powerful Fr. Peyton's work was; that his legacy continues to change lives and bring families close to Christ.  

As the final credits of this movie rolled, I knew more about the life of Fr. Patrick Peyton than I had previously, but this movie's lasting impact was not the story of this humble priest. Instead, I found myself pondering just how important it is to nurture a relationship with Christ and Our Lady. 

I often go through periods where I do not feel enthusiastic about meditating on the life of Christ by praying the Rosary. On top of that, I often let myself get distracted as I say the prayers automatically. Yet, I've known that this practice is valuable; countless Catholics across the years have testified to the power and value of praying the Rosary. Pray really hit me with the importance of this Marian prayer, and it has caused me to more thoughtfully pray the Rosary with my husband and children. 

Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton hits select theaters on October 9, 2020. 

I highly recommend checking out the website for more information on the film, movie tickets, and to get updates about streaming the film after its run in theaters. This is a wonderful documentary that is well-worth watching and discussing!

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful. I committed to a rosary a day this month with it being the month of the rosary plus with the election coming up...but I've struggled with praying it so mindlessly or automatically as you said. Appreciated the reminder of the importance and beauty of this prayer...perhaps I should ask Fr. Peyton's intercession to help me pray more devoutly!

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    1. Laura, that's such a wonderful commitment to make! I love your idea of asking Fr. Peyton's intercession in praying more devoutly-I will do that, too!

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