St. Peter Julian Eymard was originally a diocesan priest. He was ordained for the same diocese and was a close friend of St. John Vianney. A few years after his ordination, Eymard joined the Marist order, and as a Marist he traveled throughout France promoting devotion to Mary and to the Eucharist, particularly the Forty Hours Devotion, which many of our parishes in Cleveland still maintain.
As he preached the Forty Hours Devotion, he felt his love of the Eucharist grow. An extraordinary passion for the Blessed Sacrament took root in his heart. After about 16 years with the Marists, Eymard was encourage by Pope Pius IX to found a new religious order devoted especially to the spread of Eucharistic Devotion. So in 1856, he founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for men and a few years later co-founded the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, a contemplative congregation for women, and also an association of the lay faithful devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
Due to St. Peter Julian’s preaching and role model, devotion to Eucharistic Adoration is certainly one of the great devotions of our times.
He wrote, “True, God is everywhere, but we have need for Him to draw near to us under sensible signs, and this is what He does in the Blessed Sacrament. Think, then, that He is there. That Presence is sweeter, is recalled more easily than the presence of the invisible, the impalpable Divinity. It is less easily forgotten. Recall it everywhere, whatever you may be doing; and know that it is His human glance, the eye of the glorified and risen Body that follows you through walls, and never loses sight of you.”
What a powerful insight. That we can recall, in whatever we are doing, the Eucharist in so many tabernacles and monstrances around the world, gazing upon us with love. And that we can return to him here in church, and speak to him, and listen to him, and glimpse him in our holy hours, is one of the great privileges of being Catholic.
So many of our contemporaries have such a tepid belief in the Lord’s real presence in the Eucharist; so many Catholics who do not believe it is necessary to come to church to receive Holy Communion, so many non-Catholics who have not considered the meaning of Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist. So we, like St. Peter Julian do well to share with them our great love for the Eucharist, the transforming power of receiving him frequently, and making holy hours, and finding our strength in Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
That the Church may be constantly be enriched through worthy reception and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and strengthened to endure her many trials.
For blessings upon the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Community in our diocese and around the world.
That the sick and suffering may find comfort in the promises of Christ and the consolation of the Spirit.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the souls in purgatory, deceased bishops, priests, and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.
Hear Our Prayers, O Lord, and through the intercession of St. Peter Julian Eymard, enflame our love for the Bread of Life. Through the Christ Our Lord.
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