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A Eucharistic Spirituality

A Eucharistic Spirituality: Inspired by Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist.
By Paul Bernier, SSS and Jim Brown, M.A.
Cleveland, Ohio: Emmanuel Publishing, Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.
2023,  xvi, 96p. paperback

Pope John Paul II inserted the feast of St Peter Julian Eymard into the general calendar of the Catholic Church for August 2. He thus decreed that Father Eymard had a eucharistic spirituality for the whole Church. St. Eymard is no longer a saint for two religious congregations and the lay aggregation he founded. He is a saint with an important message for the entire Church (A Eucharistic Spirituality, p. 89).

This book is made for the laity, especially for the Associates (Aggregation). It is rich with words from the bible and from the pen of St. Peter Julian Eymard in the Constitutions first published in 1863, and in the letters St. Peter Julian wrote to the persons for years, giving direction for women and men to learn and love Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist.

A Journey of Faith began from St. Eymard’s birth and baptism. He wrote in his journal that he was a little like Jabob always on the move. From his home and parish Church he was aware of a person who loved him in the tabernacle of the parish church.

Prayer: A Conversation with A Loving God is the next theme. Love is very import to St. Peter Julian; and so Is prayer. Mind and heart, will and intellect are the center of his spirituality. The Eucharist at the Center of Our Life was the heart of St. Eymard’s life. It was St. Eymard’s beginning, center and end of his inner life and spirituality.

St. Peter Juian had a great love for the church in which he was baptized. Baptism and Eucharist are the new life and the nourishment of the soul. Without them we cannot live the eucharistic spirituality.  Making a Gift of Self to God is a practical way of imitating Jesus’ gift of himself in the Eucharist. Jesus is a human being. The incarnation of the Son of God in the human person Jesus Christ is a mystery. There is one person, but two natures: God and man. Jesus was sent to transfigure men and women into the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave himself for the plan of the Father. He was born, lived, did the will of the Father. We live spiritually by giving ourselves to Jesus Christ

Living In Thanksgiving is an invitation to live the Eucharist. The word Eucharist is the English translation of the Greek word thanksgiving. Gratitude is fundamental to our relationship to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Adoration: Prayer that Flows from the Eucharist. There are four ends of the Mass: Adoration, Thanksgiving, Reparation, and Petition. Listening for the Voice of God is contemplation. It is loving, silent prayer that St. Eymard called Adoration, the word he named the eucharistic prayer he encouraged those who followed his spirituality. We must be silent to hear God who speaks to us in our mind and his loving heart touches ours.

Read the Bible More is necessary for every spirituality. One of the documents of Vatican II, emphasizes the importance of the Scriptures. They are God’s word. Go Now to Love and Serve the Lord. Action, as Pope Francis reminds us often, that saying “Lord, Lord” is not enough. We must act to be saved. Finally, we are told that St. Peter Julian Eymard is A Saint for Our Times. Like all canonized saints, St. Eymard is for all who believe in Jesus Christ.

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Fr. Ernest Falardeau, SSS

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