Evening star., 1951-10-29
Family Prayer Called
Greatest Assurance Of
Peace al Rosary Rally

Some 10000 Catholics massed
at the Washington Monument
grounds yesterday afternoon un-
der threatening skies to climax
the Family Rosary Crusade, aimed
at the restoration of daily family
prayer.
The Rev. Patrick Peyton,
c. S. c., noted radio priest and
founder of the crusade, described
daily family prayer as the great
est assurance of world peace"
He said it is a practical way to
strengthen the unity of family
life so easily weakened by the
modern way of living"
Say Rosary Each Day.
Before Father Peyton spoke.
Leo A. Rover, lay chairman Of
the crusade, declared:
I'VE are here today to publicly
demonstrate our faith in Almighty
God and our love and devotion to
the Mother of God. The object is
to persuade each member of each
Catholic family to say their rosary
every day as family group =. to
restore to our home those spiritual
and moral principles by which the
peace of God may rule our hearts"
The Most Rev. Patrick A.
O'Boyle, Archbishop of Wash
ington, dedicated the archdiocese
to the protection of Mary. Mother
of God. at the services. In a brief
talk he urged all Catholics ito
be faithful to your rosary de-
votion."
May the Lord bless and keep
and love every one of you for
this magnificent demonstration OF
the love Of Mary and faith in
Christ her son." he said.
Huge Altar Features Meeting.
The meeting was centered
around a huge. temporary altar
built at one end of the Sylvan
Theater. Color guards OF the
Army. Navy. Air Force and Ma
rines bearing American flags oc-
cupied the space directly in front
of the altar.
Besides Archbisop O'Boyle, TAX
ing part in the service were the
Most Rev. John M. Mcnamara,
auxiliary bishop OF Washington,
and the Most Rev. Patrick j. Nc
Cormick, rector Of Catholic Uni
versity more than go monsignori
and nearly 1000 priests, brothers.
and sisters. The religious repre-
sented some SO Catholic orders.
The mass recitation of the
rosary by the throng marked an
impressive moment in the cere-I
mony.
II believe in God, the Father
Almighty, creator of heaven and
earth. and in Jesus Christ His only
son, Our Lord, who was conceived
by the Holy Chose, born of the
Virgin Mary. suffered under Pom
titus Plate. crucifled, died and was
buried"
10000 Intone Apostles Greed.
Thus did the recitation of the
rosary begin with the intoning of
the Apostles creed by the 10000
persons, continuing through the
Hail Marys and on to the end.
In his speech describing the
value of the family rosary. Father
Peyton said:
THE home that makes daily
practice Of the family rosary is
strong in self1eSsness. meets trials
courageously. face life joyously.
Father, mother, sisters and
brothers all sense the new feeling
Of power. The family is not only
teaming with life-it is teeming
with the life OF Christ.
He pleaded with the audience
to take 10 minutes out of every
"a hours, kneel together at home
and tell that you love God" This
simple act, he continued, tells the
goth century "this is what our
little home in Washington means
to u.s." He added
That's what the family rosary
is. 1t is not just pious. little senti-
mental saying Of Hail Marys. It's
alteration of God"
Pope's Document on Rosary.
He said that the Pope just a
month ago signed a document say
ing essentially, What I want most
is the family rosary put back into
the homes of men," That docu-
ment went to bishops over the
world, he continued, and SO will
the rosary crusade.
simultaneously with this meet
ing an estimated is million Cath
olics in many eastern and south
ern States were holding similar
meetings. The crusade, which has
been held in England, Canada,
Alaska and several South Amer
ican countries, eventually will be
carried on in each of the 48 States.
Father Peyton next month will
bring the crusade to Australia.
Music for the rally was fur
nished by the Metropolitan Police
Band, the Interchoral Group, di-
rected by John Paul of Catholic
University, and the St. Johns Col
lege High School Band.
100 Area Parishes Represented.
Each of the nearly 100 parishes
Of the archdiocese was represented
by a delegation. More than 300
chartered busses brought parish
groups to the services, some COM
ing from as far away as 80 miles
in Southern Maryland.
The crusade will be concluded
on Wednesday. During this week.
men from each parish will make a
house-to-house canvas of all
Catholic homes in the Washing
ton area to solicit pledges to say
the family rosary dailv for uyorld