Associates Initial Formation
Following in the footsteps of Father Eymard, we invite all those whom the Spirit directs to the Eucharist, both priests and lay people, to become associated with our family and share in its mission. We offer them our continuing support so that they may find in the Eucharist the inspiration for their whole life and commitments.
Rule of Life for Associates 43
Historical Background
Saint Peter Julian Eymard believed that it was essential to share the eucharistic charism of the two religious congregations he founded with the laity. In order to achieve this, he formed the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament, which was approved by Pope Pius IX in 1875.
The call to be an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament is a true vocation. Associates enter more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist and share its riches with others through a life of prayer and ministry. Number 2 of the Rule of Life for Associates states:
“Our ideal is to live the mystery of the Eucharist fully and to make known its meaning so that Christ’s reign may come and the glory of God may be revealed to the world. In response to our baptismal vocation, we seek to witness to Christ’s presence at the crossroads of society and, starting from the Eucharist, we strive to influence our world in the light of this mystery, source and summit of all evangelizing.”
If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, contact us at:
Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
5384 Wilson Mills Road
Highland Heights, OH 44143
Telephone: (440) 442-6311
E-mail: cee@blessedsacrament.com
Initial Formation Series
Initial formation is a process of introduction to the vision and mission of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who saw the Eucharist as a powerful means for the transformation of individuals and society, and who collaborated closely with lay persons and others in propagating this vision.
This formation takes place through small group meetings, using the initial formation series generally occurring monthly over a year. The small groups focus on:
• Communities of friendship and faith, to learn, pray together and share experiences.
• A spirit of collegiality and commitment to a shared vocation of Eucharistic evangelizing in the spirit of Saint Peter Julian Eymard.
• A willingness to help each other grow in understanding and living the charism of Saint Peter Julian Eymard.
Click here for booklet pdf.
Table of Contents
1. Opening Meeting • An opportunity to meet one another, pray and clarify the purposes and overview of the Associates initial formation program, the Rule of Life for Associates (ROLA), and the Manual for Living the Commitment of an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Saint Peter Julian Eymard: His Life and Mission • God led Peter Julian Eymard on a journey of faith: first as a diocesan priest, then a religious of the Society of Mary; then to found a religious community dedicated to the Eucharist.
3. The Vocational Call of the Laity in Service to the Church • Our baptism calls us to live an authentically eucharistic spirituality.
4. Saint Peter Julian Eymard: Apostle of the Eucharist • God inspired Saint Peter Julian Eymard to establish within the church a new way of living the Christian life as disciples and apostles of the Eucharist.
5. The Eucharist as the Center of our Life • Following the example of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, we place the Eucharist at the center of our lives and witness to the love of Christ offered in this sacrament for the transformation of the world.
6. Table of the Word • When received in faith, the word of God resonates in our innermost being and reveals the meaning of our lives. We pay careful attention to the texts of the Mass and internalize them in prayer.
7. Liturgy of the Eucharist • The celebration of the Eucharist proclaims the paschal mystery of Jesus, the source of our salvation, and invites our full, active and conscious participation. By doing so, our lives become what we celebrate.
8. Liturgy of the Hours • This “prayer of the church” is prayed by clergy, religious communities, and a growing number of lay persons and parishes. It is offered for the whole church and is encouraged in the ROLA.
9. Saint Peter Julian Eymard and Prayer in the Presence of the Eucharist • Prayer holds an important place in our lives and is part of our mission. By it, we hope to become adorers in spirit and in truth. Eucharistic adoration extends the celebration of the Eucharist and leads to service in daily life.
10. Historical Development of the Congregation and the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament • Understanding the origins and recent history of the Congregation and the Aggregation offers us a sense of who we are and where God is leading us today.
11. Evangelizing and Mission • We all share in Christ’s mission to bring the love of God and the hope that is ours to others.
12. The Covenant Commitment • In studying and reflecting on these themes and the ROLA, we prepare ourselves for our Covenant Commitment as Associates of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation.
Appendix A: Manual for Living the Commitment of an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament • A guide to membership in the reformulation of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament for the Province of Saint Ann. Laity, clergy and professed religious are invited to form associations that center their lives in the Eucharist.
Appendix B: CEE Historical Addendum
Appendix C: Prayers