His Final Days
His Final Days
In spite of Father Peyton’s passion and the extraordinary energy which he expended in traveling, speaking, organizing, and planning for the growth and expansion of his ministry, in the 1990’s, his health began to fail.
His heart grew weaker and he was hospitalized three times for congestive heart failure. He went to live with the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro, California where he spent his days in adoration, offering Mass, and praying the Rosary. After a few months of failing health his life began to slowly ebb away. On the evening of June 2, 1992, he was unable to finish his Rosary and was told by those at his bedside that they would finish the prayer for him. He died peacefully at 5:20 a.m. on June 3, 1992. His final words were:
Mary, my Queen, my Mother.
Upon notice of his death hundreds of condolences and statements of praise and appreciation were received from people and groups around the world. One read, “The death of Father Peyton is a loss which will be deeply felt. He touched the lives of millions of people through radio and television with the simplicity and sincerity of his life and of his message.” Father John Murphy, C.S.C., in eulogizing Father Peyton recalled the ten years that he worked with him and said,
Father Pat was unique, he was charismatic, he was seemingly tireless, and in his lifetime, he did more to inspire devotion to Our Lady and the Rosary than anyone in history.
Father Peyton was buried on June 8, 1992 in the Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers Cemetery at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts. On April 27, 2026, his mortal remains were exhumed and transferred to the Queen of Families Veneration Chapel at the Father Peyton Center. While he lived, Father Peyton’s prayers and healing touch assisted many in their needs; since his death, many reports of favors received through his intercession have been noted. Some report physical healings; others tell of spiritual favors received; of special mention are reports of alienated Catholics returning to the sacraments and of families finding hope and courage in suffering. Many commented on how quickly their prayers were answered.
At the request of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious community to which Father Peyton belonged, the Bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts, with the approval of the Vatican, officially opened the Cause of Canonization on June 1, 2001.
At that time, Father Peyton was given the title Servant of God.
Since then, significant work has been completed to present Father Peyton’s heroic practice of virtue and reputation for holiness. Once declared a Servant of God an extensive process of documenting the person’s life and work begins. For Father Peyton, over 150 people were interviewed in countries around the world. In addition, all of the public statements and published works and accounts about him were collected. Later the formal case for Sainthood was presented in a summary called a Positio.
A Vatican Committee called the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints then examined the Positio. They determined Father Peyton lived a life of heroic virtue and sanctity of life and voted to send the cause to the Holy Father.
