A miracle for Fr. Peyton?

Maybe.

With so much bad news flowing out of Catholic Albany, New York these days, this news is heartening:

A possible miraculous cure attributed to Catholic media pioneer Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., could advance the beatification cause of the “Rosary Priest” known for his motto “The family that prays together, stays together.”

A tribunal based in the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., has investigated the alleged miracle and will forward its findings to Rome on June 28.

The details of the possible miracle cannot be shared at this point, explained Father John Phalen, C.S.C., president of Holy Cross Family Ministries. However, he did report that the case involves a man in his 60s who was admitted to the hospital with “life-threatening, multiple organ failure.”

“His family prayed to Father Peyton, and they strongly felt that he was healed through intercessory prayer. The medical community has offered information to support this belief,” Father Phalen said.

The man’s family is from the Albany area and was “very well aware” of the famous local priest, said Susan Wallace, director of external relations at Holy Cross Family Ministries.

“We all love Father Peyton dearly. There are many people who tell me every day, ‘Oh, he’s a saint; he doesn’t need all that paperwork,” she told CNA on June 23.

“But it is important for us to move this forward. Any time we make any progress, we celebrate. We’re very, very pleased. We’re excited to be moving forward and meeting these milestones.”

Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany and Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, the postulator of Father Peyton’s cause, asked the tribunal to conduct a thorough review of all aspects of the possible miracle. The tribunal findings will be forwarded to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

Bishop Hubbard will celebrate a closing liturgy for the tribunal at Albany’s St. Vincent de Paul Church at noon on June 28.