Day 332 -- Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Saint Peter Julian Eymard was born February 4, 1811 in La Mure, France and died on Augst 1, 1868. He was canonized in 1962.

He grew up in a poor family during the anti-Catholic aftermath of the French Revolution. He ended the priesthood against his family's wishes, but he had to leave because of an illness, and his health never completed recovered. He was able to return and was ordained on July 20, 1834. He joined the Marist Fathers in 1839. He was friends with Saint John Marie Vianney. He was the provincial supervisor in 1845. He had a very strong Marian devotion and travelled to the Marian Shrines in France. He organized lay societies under the direction of the Marists and preached and taught and worked for Eucharistic devotion. In 1856 he founded a new religious society called the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the lay Servants of the Blessed Sacrament in 1858. He experienced setbacks, but always persevered.

The Our Father paraphrased by Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Our Father Who art in Heaven

In the heaven of the Eucharist, to You Who are seated on the throne of grace and love, be benediction, and honor, and power and glory for ever and ever!

Hallowed be Your Name

first in myself, through the spirit of Your humility, obedience, and charity. May I in all humility and zeal make You known, loved and adored by all men in the Holy Eucharist.

Thy Kingdom come

Thy Eucharistic kingdom. Rule forever over us for Your greater glory through the power of Your love, the triumph of Your virtues and the grace of a Eucharistic vocation in my state as a layman. Grant me the grace of Your love so that I may be able to effectively extend Your Eucharistic kingdom everywhere and realize the desire You expressed: 'I have come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled!' O that I might be the incendiaries of this heavenly fire!

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven

Grant me the grace to find all my joy in wanting You alone, in desiring You alone and in thinking of You alone. Grant that by denying myself, I may find light and life in obeying Your good, acceptable and perfect Will. I will what You will. I will it because You will it. I will it as You will it. I will it as long as You will it. Keep my thoughts and desires purely from You, for You and in You.

Give us this day our daily bread

You are our Eucharistic Lord and You alone will be my food and clothing, my riches and glory, my remedy in illness and my protection against all evil. You will be all things to me.

And forgive us our trespasses

Forgive me Jesus, for I am sorry for all my sins just as they stand in Your eyes.

As we forgive those who trespass against us

For anyone who has offended me in any way, with my whole heart I forgive them and desire for them the gifts of Your love.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Deliver me Jesus, from the demon of pride, impurity, discord and complacency. Deliver me from the cares and worries of life so that with a pure heart and a free mind I may joyfully spend my life and devote all that I am and all that I have in the service of You my Eucharistic Lord.

Amen

In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped; let me not be confounded forever. You alone are good. You alone are powerful. You alone are eternal. To You alone be honor and glory, love and thanksgiving forever and ever.

"How kind is our Sacramental Jesus! He welcomes you at any hour of the day or night. His Love never knows rest. He is always most gentle towards you. When you visit Him, He forgets your sins and speaks only of His joy, His tenderness, and His Love. By the reception He gives to you, one would think He has need of you to make Him happy."