EDITORIAL

Prayer and Family Life

Posted

The spiritual work is well underway for the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family. While these next two weeks will necessarily confront many challenging topics that feature prominently in the news, the working document in preparation for the synod also addressed the necessity for piety and fruitful spirituality within family life.

In other words, the Church’s ministry will not only focus on reconciliation in the face of so many pastoral challenges (as completely essential as this is), but will also seek to encourage and strengthen families striving to stay together in a culture that so assiduously mitigates against family life. The preparatory document speaks of the timeless treasures of our Catholic faith, like the Rosary, family pilgrimages and reading Sacred Scripture together.

While many today might not recognize the name of Father Patrick Peyton, few would be unfamiliar with his famous expression: “The family that prays together stays together.” Father Peyton’s tireless promotion of the Family Rosary eventually spread to over 40 countries and reached over 28 million people worldwide. His Cause for Sainthood was opened in 2001, and while investigation is underway regarding at least one miracle attributed to this holy priest, certainly there are favors we could all be asking of Father Peyton for our families.

Fr. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., and the Synod on the Family, remind us that family life is not sustained merely by good intentions and the earnest desire to stay the course. Families are ultimately formed, renewed and sustained by a radical openness to divine grace.