The Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Proper of the Saints: Liturgy of the Hours Saint Peter Julian Eymard, priest August 2 nd He was born in the town of La Mure, France in the year 1811. Ordained a priest and engaged in pastoral work for some time, he later entered the Society of Mary. Fervent disciple of the Eucharistic Mystery, he established two congregations, one for men, the other for women, dedicated to the worship of the Eucharist. He was also the initiator of many other apostolates, aptly chosen to arouse love for the Holy Eucharist among the faithful. He died on August 1, 1868 in the town in which he was born From the common of pastors or religious From the writings of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, priest (La Présence réelle, vol. I, Paris, 1950, pp. 270-271 and 307-308) Eucharist: sacrament of life The Eucharist is the life of the people. The Eucharist gives them a centre of life. All can come together without the barriers of race or language in order to celebrate the feast days of the Church. It gives them a law of life, that of charity, of which it is the source; thus it forges between them a common bond, a Christian kinship. All eat the same bread, all are table companions of Jesus Christ who supernaturally creates among them a feeling of togetherness. Read the Acts of the Apostles. It states that the whole community of the first Christians, converted Jews and baptised pagans, belonging to different regions, “had but one heart and one soul” (Acts 4,32). Why? Because they were attentive to the teaching of the Apostles and faithful in sharing in the breaking of the bread (Acts 2,42). Yes, the Eucharist is the life of souls and of societies, just as the sun is the life of the body and of the earth. Without the sun, the earth would be sterile, it is the sun which makes it fertile, renders it beautiful and rich; it is the sun which provides agility, strength and beauty to the body. In the face of these amazing effects, it is not astonishing that the pagans should have adored it as the god of the world. In actual fact, the sun obeys a supreme Sun, the divine Word, Jesus Christ, who illumines everyone coming into this world and who, through the Eucharist, Sacrament of life, acts in person in the very depths of souls in order to form Christian families and peoples. Oh how happy, a thousand times happy, is the faithful soul who has found this hidden treasure, who goes to drink at this fountain of living water, who eats often this Bread of eternal life! Christian society is also a family. The link between its members is Jesus Christ. He is the head of the household who has prepared the family table. He is the head, Jesus Christ, who celebrated christian togetherness at the Supper; he called his Apostles filioli, my little children, and he commanded them to love one another as he had loved them. At the holy table we are all children who receive the same nourishment, and Saint Paul draws out the consequences of this, that is, that we form but one family, one same body, because we all share in the same bread, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor 10, 16-17). Lastly, the Eucharist gives Christian society the strength to observe the law of honour, and to practice charity towards on’s neighbour. Jesus Christ wants everyone to honour and love his brothers and sisters. For this reason he identifies himself with them: “What you do to the least of mine, you do to me” (Mt 25,40); and he gives himself to each one of them in Communion.

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This document contains the proper for the Office of Readings for August 2 - the Solemnity of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (priests and brothers) and of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament (sisters).

Transcript of The Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Page 1: The Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Proper of the Saints: Liturgy of the HoursSaint Peter Julian Eymard, priest

August 2nd

He was born in the town of La Mure, France in the year 1811. Ordained apriest and engaged in pastoral work for some time, he later entered the Societyof Mary. Fervent disciple of the Eucharistic Mystery, he established twocongregations, one for men, the other for women, dedicated to the worship ofthe Eucharist. He was also the initiator of many other apostolates, aptlychosen to arouse love for the Holy Eucharist among the faithful. He died onAugust 1, 1868 in the town in which he was born

From the common of pastors or religious

From the writings of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, priest(La Présence réelle, vol. I, Paris, 1950, pp. 270-271 and 307-308)

Eucharist: sacrament of life

The Eucharist is the life of the people. The Eucharist gives them a centre of life. All can cometogether without the barriers of race or language in order to celebrate the feast days of theChurch. It gives them a law of life, that of charity, of which it is the source; thus it forgesbetween them a common bond, a Christian kinship. All eat the same bread, all are tablecompanions of Jesus Christ who supernaturally creates among them a feeling of togetherness. Read the Acts of the Apostles. It states that the whole community of the first Christians,converted Jews and baptised pagans, belonging to different regions, “had but one heart andone soul” (Acts 4,32). Why? Because they were attentive to the teaching of the Apostles andfaithful in sharing in the breaking of the bread (Acts 2,42).

Yes, the Eucharist is the life of souls and of societies, just as the sun is the life of the bodyand of the earth. Without the sun, the earth would be sterile, it is the sun which makes itfertile, renders it beautiful and rich; it is the sun which provides agility, strength and beautyto the body. In the face of these amazing effects, it is not astonishing that the pagans shouldhave adored it as the god of the world. In actual fact, the sun obeys a supreme Sun, thedivine Word, Jesus Christ, who illumines everyone coming into this world and who, throughthe Eucharist, Sacrament of life, acts in person in the very depths of souls in order to formChristian families and peoples. Oh how happy, a thousand times happy, is the faithful soulwho has found this hidden treasure, who goes to drink at this fountain of living water, whoeats often this Bread of eternal life!

Christian society is also a family. The link between its members is Jesus Christ. He is thehead of the household who has prepared the family table. He is the head, Jesus Christ, whocelebrated christian togetherness at the Supper; he called his Apostles filioli, my littlechildren, and he commanded them to love one another as he had loved them.

At the holy table we are all children who receive the same nourishment, and Saint Paul drawsout the consequences of this, that is, that we form but one family, one same body, becausewe all share in the same bread, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor 10, 16-17). Lastly, the Eucharistgives Christian society the strength to observe the law of honour, and to practice charitytowards on’s neighbour. Jesus Christ wants everyone to honour and love his brothers andsisters. For this reason he identifies himself with them: “What you do to the least of mine,you do to me” (Mt 25,40); and he gives himself to each one of them in Communion.

Page 2: The Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Responsorial (cf. I Cor 10:17; John 6:58a)R/. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the onebread * This is the bread which came down from heaven

V/. The Lord has nourished us with this rich food * This is the bread which came down fromheaven.

PrayerO God, You filled Saint Peter Julian with wondrous love for the mysteries of the Body andBlood of Your Son. Grant, we beseech You, that like him, we may experience the richnessof this holy banquet.