The sources for this article can be found at the end of it.
The Eucharistic Testimony of
St. Peter Julian Eymard.
He once described himself as “a little like Jacob, always on a journey,” always seeking. But, in truth, it was there from the beginning ― the great love and the driving passion of his life: Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
One day, young Peter Julian Eymard, just five years of age, wandered off from the family home. His relatives searched for the boy and finally located him in the parish church, standing on a stool close to the tabernacle of the high altar. He answered simply, “I am here listening to Jesus.” It is said that he would place his head on his sister’s heart when she returned from Holy Communion and say “I can feel His presence!” His First Communion was at the age of 12 and he promised Jesus there and then that he would become a priest.
The Early Years – 1811-1839
Peter Julian’s road to the priesthood, as well as his life as a priest, was shadowed by the cross. Anti-clericalism marked French society, and his father, having seen several sons die, did not want his only surviving son to become a priest. His first attempt to pursue the priesthood (Oblates of Mary Immcaulate) ended in serious illness. Following his father’s death, he tried once again, and on July 20, 1834, at age 23, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Grenoble.
The Church of Eymard’s day was greatly affected by Jansenism, a religious movement which focused on the human sinfulness and on the unworthiness of human motivation and activity. In his seminary years and first years of ministry, Eymard was influenced by a reparation spirituality (I have to repair and make amends to God for all my evil life). He would struggle his whole life to seek that inner perfection that would enable him to offer the gift of his entire self.
Perhaps it was this spiritual struggle and his lifelong devotion to Mary that led him to enter religious life. He had become dissatisfied with life as a diocesan priest. On August 20, 1839, Father Eymard professed vows as a member of the Society of Mary (the Marists).
The Marist Years – 1839-1856
Throughout his life, Peter Julian had an intense devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. At the age of 12, he walked on foot to a Marian shrine called Notre Dame du Laus in the High Alps in S.E. France. He enjoyed traveling to various Marian shrines. It was Father Eymard’s work for the Society of Mary that put him in contact with the various currents of eucharistic piety that were flowering in France and in Europe.
Despite persistent health issues, Peter Julian was an amazingly energetic and hardworking priest and religious. He was elected Provincial of the Marists in Lyons in 1844. Naturally drawn to contemplation, the demands of his ministry, especially his preaching and administrative duties, made it impossible for him to live a purely contemplative life. He was an outstanding organizer of lay societies, a zealous educator, a well-prepared preacher, and something of a prophetic figure in his Marist community and even to his superiors. As provincial, he became responsible for the Third Order of Mary, a lay group dedicated to Marist spirituality. The future St. John Vianney was a member.
Father Eymard was especially effective at preaching Eucharistic devotions, very popular at the time, especially the 40 hours. It was on one such occasion, on Corpus Christi, May 25, 1845, that he had a powerful experience that would change the course of his life. While carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession, he felt an intense attraction to Christ in the Eucharist and resolved to “bring all the world to the knowledge and love of our Lord; to preach nothing but Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Eucharistic.”
This grace would gradually consume his life and his energies over the next several years. When responsibility for writing a rule for the new Third Order of Mary was entrusted to him, Peter Julian asked permission to write a eucharistic rule. The Superior answered that this was not the charism of the Society of Mary. Nevertheless, the idea for such a rule had already been written in the mind and heart of Father Eymard, and, in 1856, he made the painful decision to leave the Marists in the hope of a founding a religious congregation dedicated to the Eucharist.
The Years of Founding – 1856-1868
Founding the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament was not an easy task. Faithfully following the Holy Spirit’s inspiration brought Father Eymard relational conflicts, situations of personal embarrassment, financial troubles, and physical exhaustion. The first hurdle was getting approval for the new eucharistic institute.
The work of preparation for First Communion, especially among adults, was the aspect of Eymard’s vision that interested the Archbishop of Paris when the two met and the priest shared his project. Eucharistic communities and organizations were springing up throughout France ― many of them emphasizing only prayer and reparation ― but the Archbishop rightly perceived that Eymard’s understanding of the Eucharist was not limited merely to adoration but to reaching out to those who were estranged from the Church and evangelizing them. He gave approval on May 13, 1856. This date is observed in the congregations Father Eymard founded as the feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
Father Eymard immediately directed his ministry to the young workers and other barely employable men who made up a large segment of the labour force of Paris. No sooner did he attract a few followers to join him than he had to close the house (he had named its chapel the “cenacle”) and move to another location. This happened twice within the span of a few years. At times, his communities were so poor that a neighbouring convent of sisters fed the priests and brothers.
But his zeal and self-sacrifice and perseverance for the love of the Eucharistic Jesus won through. He was the founder of two religious institutes: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for men and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament for women.
“Gift of Self”
As early as 1845 ― and perhaps owing to the grace of his experience at Saint Paul’s in Lyons on Corpus Christi ― Father Eymard began to move away from a spirituality of reparation to a spirituality which emphasized the love of Christ. In 1865, just three years prior to his death, he made a long retreat in Rome. During this retreat, he was struck by the overwhelming realization of Christ’s love for him, a love which he felt was taking over his entire life. In response, he wished to make the “gift of self:” of his will, his personality, and his affections, to God and to Christ in the Eucharist.
Anticipating the renewal brought about by the Second Vatican Council, Saint Peter Julian Eymard had a vision of eucharistic communities of priests, deacons, brothers, sisters, and lay people living lives of total dedication to the spiritual values that are inspired by the celebration of the Eucharist and deepened through prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
His life was a true journey to Christ in the Eucharist, a journey begun intuitively on that day when a small boy wandered away from his family home to go to church ― to listen to Jesus in the tabernacle. He died of complications resulting from a brain haemorrhage at the age of 57 in 1868.
Writings
St. Peter Julian has many writings translated into English. I have a few on my Kindle. Here are some of the titles:
The Real Presence: (1906): A collection of sermons focusing on Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
Holy Communion: (1909): Explores the significance of receiving Holy Communion.
The Eucharist and Christian Perfection I & II: (1908): Part of the Eymard Library, this work discusses the connection between the Eucharist and spiritual growth.
Eucharistic Retreats: (1873): Early writings providing spiritual retreats centred on the Eucharist.
A Eucharistic Handbook : A practical guide for the devoted spiritual life with the Eucharist.
Month of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament : A devotional text for honouring the Virgin Mary in her role as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Life and Letters of Saint Peter Julian Eymard: A collection of his correspondence and insights into his spiritual life.
There are many ore publications about the saint as well.
Conclusion
As we honour this great saint, christened the Apostle of the Eucharist, let us ponder our own devotion to Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Saint Peter Eymard discovered the holiness of God, hidden behind the appearance of bread and wine. His devotion to adoration led him to catechesis about the Eucharist. Allow him to inspire you to renew your own commitment to learning more about the Blessed Sacrament, so that you will more fully give yourself to our Lord as a total gift of yourself, out of love for God, the reparation of sin, and the salvation of souls.
Prayer: Saint Peter Julian Eymard, God inspired within you, from an early age, a deep and unwavering love for His divine presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. You responded to that inspiration and fulfilled God’s will by spreading devotion to the Holy Eucharist far and wide. Please pray for me, that I will more fully embark on a mission to understand God’s divine presence in the Eucharist so that I will make a continually deepening gift of myself to Him. Saint Peter Julian Eymard, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
https://www.blessedsacrament.com/st-peter-julian-eymard/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Julian_Eymard