Around the World with Mary

But Fr. Peyton did not stop there. In 1948 he began to organize huge Rosary rallies, called Family Rosary Crusades, first in Canada, then in Ireland, and around the United Kingdom. He received invitations from bishops around the world to do the same in their countries. In 1961 in San Francisco, 500,000 people attended his rally, judged by the archdiocesan archivist as the number one event in the 150 year history of the archdiocese. In Latin America a huge campaign reached millions: in 1962 one million in Colombia and 1.5 million in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and 2 million in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1964. He also drew 2 million to his 1985 rally in the Philippines.

If radio and the crusades weren't enough, in the 1950s Fr. Peyton took on a massive film project, producing three feature-length epic films in Spain on the life of Christ, divided into the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. These films were seen around the world and were the first films many in Latin America ever saw. He continued to produce TV specials—dramas, documentaries and interview and variety programs—again, featuring many of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Frank Sinatra and Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly film star Grace Kelly.

Popes praised him. Bishops sought him out. Fr Peyton became well-known himself for enlisting famous celebrities to witness to the power of faith and prayer. Before he died on 3 June 1992, Fr. Peyton had circled the globe and spoken to over 28 million people in person in crusades. He had reached countless millions more on over 600 radio and television shows and in film. His daring came from his gratitude to Our Lady for preserving his very life and priesthood. He spoke of nothing but the Blessed Mother, her Rosary, and the work of the Family Rosary and Family Theater Productions. Another of his famous slogans became "A World at Prayer is a World at Peace!"