Anniversary of the Beatification of Peter Julian Eymard

“…Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Over the past thirty-plus years, our now semi-retired pastor ended every weekend Mass with, “The service begins when you leave the building.” Just as Jesus sent out the disciples 2000 years ago to be his partners in the universal restoration of the early Church, this is our calling now. Today, more than ever, we have an opportunity to participate actively in this great Eucharistic Revival within our Catholic Church.

Jesus gathered his twelve disciples, and after sharing his mission with them, he rallied them to go out and continue his work, not to the pagan territory or a Samaritan town, but to their own people who had drifted away. Jewish wisdom calls it tikkun olam, the restoration of the world. Our Church leaders invite us to get involved and participate in the solution; it may be as simple as inviting a friend to join us at Mass and brunch or lunch after Mass.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard was firmly convinced and determined to bring the lost sheep to the Eucharist. In his early years as a diocesan priest in Grenoble, France, he asked permission to join a religious order. Testing his commitment, the bishop told Father Eymard that he would not consider it until he brought all 450 parishioners in the village of Monteynard, France, to the sacraments. Father Eymard had successfully brought back all 450 lost sheep two years later! Today we celebrate the anniversary of Peter Julian Eymard’s beatification by Pope Pius XI during the Jubilee Year of 1925.

Who will be your guest to join you at the Table of the Lord this Sunday?

Prayer:

Lord, give me the grace and conviction to spread your good news and share your love with those I meet today. Provide me with inviting words to bring others back to our Eucharistic celebrations to receive the Body and Blood of Christ and be in communion with our faith family. Amen.