--- title: Nine Days of Prayer for Family Unity Begins January 1 description: "The Novena for Family Unity begins January 1: Download your free prayer booklet today!" image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Peyton-F.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/12/29/nine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1/#) # Nine Days of Prayer for Family Unity Begins January 1 Dec 29, 2018 6:47:00 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Peyton-F.jpg) [![](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Novena2019.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Novena2019.png) Copyright 2018 Holy Cross Family Ministries. All rights reserved.[/caption] On January 9, 1909, Patrick Peyton was born in County Mayo, Ireland into humble beginnings. He found his way to the United States and into the Congregation of Holy Cross. While a seminarian and studying at Holy Cross College in Washington, D.C., Patrick was stricken with tuberculosis. For almost a full year Patrick languished in his hospital bed at Notre Dame. A wise, elderly priest encouraged him to put his trust in the power of Mary’s intercession. Almost immediately doctors saw signs of improvement and could not explain his recovery. Patrick was convinced that he had regained his health and strength through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. In gratitude to Our Lady, he was determined to spend the rest of his life promoting devotion to her so everyone would come to know the blessings that she is eager to bestow on those who turn to her with confidence and love. And so he did. Venerable Patrick Peyton made it his life’s work to promote the Rosary and it continues today through Holy Cross Family Ministries. CatholicMom.com has been a part of Holy Cross Family Ministries since 2017. We can learn so much from Patrick Peyton’s life: the power of prayer, the importance of persistence, and most especially, that ordinary people are able to accomplish extraordinary things when we surrender ourselves to the mission God has for our lives. To celebrate and recognize his birthday, it’s only appropriate to welcome you and your loved ones to join us in praying a Novena for family strength and unity around the world. With this petition, we are confident that through the grace of God you and your family will be spiritually enriched, thus living out Venerable Patrick Peyton’s belief that "The Family That Prays Together Stays Together." [**Download the free novena prayer booklet and join us in prayer each day beginning Tuesday, January 1, 2019**](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Ebooks/eBooks/Novena2019.pdf?__hssc=19866279.1.1546094985797&__hstc=19866279.527ed72c3dd2b093540e02951ae07969.1543244517728.1545164146169.1546094985797.6&__hsfp=3519636887&hsCtaTracking=72d162ec-e786-4ef4-a2e8-c2c4974cea57%7C15e39e63-662f-463d-a0d3-828b8de09bc2)**.** Here at CatholicMom.com, we're starting our own online chapter of the Father Peyton Guild, beginning Wednesday, January 9 with a Rosary on Facebook Live. **[Learn more about it and sign up to join us](http://catholicmom.com/2018/12/06/cm-hangout-the-father-peyton-guild/)!** What's the Father Peyton Guild? **[Find out more](http://catholicmom.com/2018/12/06/a-rosary-story-and-invitation-to-prayer/)!** --- *Copyright 2018 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F29%2Fnine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F29%2Fnine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F29%2Fnine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Nine%20Days%20of%20Prayer%20for%20Family%20Unity%20Begins%20January%201) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F29%2Fnine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F12%2F29%2Fnine-days-of-prayer-for-family-unity-begins-january-1%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Father Willy Discusses "Rosary Priest" on EWTN Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/01/01/father-willy-discusses-rosary-priest-ewtn/) [ Pray a Family Novena Celebrating Venerable Patrick Peyton's Birth Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/pray-a-family-novena-celebrating-venerable-patrick-peytons-birth) [ Video: Venerable Patrick Peyton, a holy role model Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/06/11/video-venerable-patrick-peyton-a-holy-role-model/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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