St Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) |
The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began working with children in
Paris to prepare them to receive their First Communion, even though this custom
was only approved in 1909 by Pope Pius X. It also reached out to non-practicing
Catholics, inviting them to repent and begin receiving Communion again. Eymard
was a tireless proponent of frequent Holy Communion, another idea approved officially by Pope Pius X in 1905.
Eymard overcame a number of difficulties to
reach his goals, including poverty in his family and in his community, his
father's opposition to his only son’s desire to be a priest, years of serious
illness and pain, and the difficulties of getting diocesan and papal approval
for his new Order. Eymard was a contemporary and a friend of other saints including
Peter Chanel, John Vianney, VincentdePaul,
and Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marists.
The French sculptor Auguste Rodin received counsel from Eymard when Rodin entered the Congregation as a lay brother in 1862, having given up art after the death of his sister. Eymard recognized Rodin's talent and advised him to return to his vocation. Rodin later produced a bronze bust of Eymard.
St. Peter Julian died on 1 August 1868. He was beatified in 1925 and canonized by Pope John XXIII on 9 December 1962. His Order runs a church in New York City where they have perpetual adoration of the Eucharist. I am especially devoted to this saint since my two nephews are named Julian and Peter.
The French sculptor Auguste Rodin received counsel from Eymard when Rodin entered the Congregation as a lay brother in 1862, having given up art after the death of his sister. Eymard recognized Rodin's talent and advised him to return to his vocation. Rodin later produced a bronze bust of Eymard.
St. Peter Julian died on 1 August 1868. He was beatified in 1925 and canonized by Pope John XXIII on 9 December 1962. His Order runs a church in New York City where they have perpetual adoration of the Eucharist. I am especially devoted to this saint since my two nephews are named Julian and Peter.
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