Pope Francis Declares Father Peyton Venerable
Pope Francis Declares Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., to be Venerable
On Monday, December 18, 2017, Pope Francis promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Father Patrick Peyton, a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, thus recognizing him as Venerable by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Positio on the life, virtues, and reputation of holiness of Father Peyton had previously been discussed and approved by a panel of nine theologians and more recently by a group of fifteen Cardinals and Archbishops who voted affirmatively to recognize his heroic virtues. The Positio refers to the volume containing the evidence that was collected from witness testimonies and supporting documents during inquiries carried out by special tribunals in several dioceses.
Hundreds of testimonies to Father Peyton’s heroic virtue and holiness of life have been recorded.
Saints – Why?
The Church canonizes holy people not for their sakes, but to present them to the faithful as models of the Christian life and as powerful intercessors. In their triumph over the challenges of life through faith, we are inspired to trust God more fully and to serve others more generously.
Saints – How?
The Church studies the life and works of those who are being proposed for Canonization for evidence of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, for humility and prudence and prayerfulness, and for the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
The Church also wants evidence that after their deaths the memory of these individuals continues to inspire the faithful to pursue holiness and to seek their intercession, so reports of favors requested and received must be kept. Extraordinary healings must have medical records, doctors’ assessments, and proof that the healing is attributable to the person being proposed for Beatification/Canonization.
Stages Of Sainthood
Servant of God
Promoter group asks the bishop to open an investigation. If granted, Servant of God describes someone at this stage of the process. Then a diocesan inquiry begins:
- Testimony is gathered to examine heroic virtue and the sanctity of life.
- The candidate’s important historical and theological writings are gathered and reviewed.
- If approved, all collected documentation is sent to Rome. The Postulator writes a formal summary of the heroic virtues and life of holiness of the candidate (Positio), which is sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican for review.
Venerable
The candidate is declared Venerable after a favorable judgment of the documentation by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and Papal approval.
Blessed
The candidate is declared Blessed by the Holy Father once a miracle is investigated and attributed to the intercession of the Venerable.
Saint
The Holy Father declares the candidate to be a Saint after a second miracle is attributed to the intercession of the Blessed.
Details on the Current Status of Father Peyton’s Cause
Venerable Patrick Peyton’s Cause reached a new milestone in April of 2015 with the completion and presentation of the Positio—a 1,300 page report that studied his life and ministry for heroic virtue and sanctity of life (holiness).
The Positio is the synthesis of the Diocesan Inquiry (6,000 page report that included interviews with people from Father Peyton’s life: childhood to death, study of his academic life, ministry, writings, and homilies, etc.) which was conducted in 35 dioceses around the world and completed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2010.
When the Positio was received by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2015, a meeting was scheduled that would set the date for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to study Father Peyton’s life via the Positio. After studying the Positio, they found that he had lived a life of heroic virtue and sanctity of life and recommended to the Holy Father that Father Peyton should be declared “Venerable.”
On Monday, December 18, 2017, Pope Francis issued the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. He is now called Venerable Patrick Peyton.
The third stage of a Cause for Sainthood requires a miracle to be officially attributed to the candidate. Miracles are considered by the Church to be signs of the holiness of the candidate for Sainthood and his or her closeness to God in the afterlife. Their evidence must prove of supernatural healing not explainable by medical treatment or scientific reasoning.
Now that Father Peyton has been declared “Venerable,” we invite the faithful to pray through his intercession for the needs of themselves and their family and friends. We hope that one of their prayers will result in the miracle needed to advance Father Peyton’s Cause.
Prayer for the
Beatificationof Venerable Patrick PeytonDear Jesus, Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to strengthening the families of the world by calling them to pray together every day, especially the Rosary. His message is as important for us now as it was during his life on earth.
We beg you, therefore, to hasten the day of his Beatification, so that your faithful people everywhere will remember his message that the family that prays together stays together, will imitate him in his devotion to your Mother and ours, and will be inspired by his holy life to draw ever closer to you with childlike confidence and love. Amen.
Request a Prayer
Prayer Requests, Prayers of Petition, or Intercessory Prayers are prayers in which we are asking God to assist us. They are prayers in which we recognize our dependence on God and thus give praise to God.
Prayer for a Favor through Venerable Patrick Peyton
God, Our Father, your wisdom is displayed in all creation and the power of your grace is revealed in the lives of holy people, who inspire us to trust you more fully and to serve others more generously. In a unique way, you blessed the life and work of your servant, Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., and made him a fervent apostle of Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary and Mother of us all. Through his intercession, we ask for this favor.… Please grant it, if it is for your honor and glory, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Father David S. Marcham invites those who have received favors through the intercession of Venerable Patrick Peyton in response to prayer requests to forward that information to him. While we accept anonymous requests and reports of favors, it helps the Cause if you provide your contact information, as this allows us to submit a verifiable report to the Vatican.
To report prayers answered, please email Father David S. Marcham at VicePostulator@hcfm.org
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may do so Here.
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Stories of Prayers Answered Through Father Peyton’s Intercession
Praying Together In A Happy Marriage
I thank Father Peyton for helping with our Father in heaven for his favors granted that my husband is now praying with me mornings and finding contentment with his life and our marriage.
Lovena
Health Issues And Positive Test Results
Maria reports that she was experiencing a serious health issue, with a high creatine level in her blood, which can indicate kidney problems. After she and her sister prayed to Father Peyton for his intercession, her latest test results are very positive. “My sister and I met and heard Father Peyton speak when we were still in school,” she writes. “His advocacy about praying together as a family has been ingrained ever since.”
Learning To Be A Good Steward
I prayed for my family’s financial challenges, and that God would guide me to be a good steward with our monies. Not long after this prayer, my husband was asked to work an extra day with time and a half pay: this will cover our financial needs for this time period. Thank you Father Peyton for your loving intercession, Amen. – Claire
House Sold
A Texas woman needed a financial miracle and prayed to Father Peyton that her house would sell. She writes that her prayer was answered, and she gives thanks to Father Peyton for his intercession.
We are always getting reports of prayers answered and update this section monthly. Check back next month for more inspiring stories from those who have asked for Father Peyton’s intercession!
