You may have noticed that over the last few weeks we have begun to display different color pictures on the cover of the printed version of the Weekly Bulletin. Last week, many of you had no problems recognizing on our cover picture one of the two "young" saints surrounding Sister Rosario at the end of the All-Saints Mass: Mother Teresa is so easily recognized with the blue/white colors of her sari. The other Saint was the Blessed Virgin Mary, the greatest of all the saints. Looking at all the children " Saints" before they processed in the church, I had to ask some of them: SAINT WHO?
You may be familiar with the daily page titled "SAINT WHO?" in the monthly publication "MAGNIFICAT”, a "daily SPIRITUAL GUIDE to help you develop your prayer life.., participate in the HOLY MASS with greater fervor...and WALK ON THE PATH TO HOLINESS, through the daily reading of the INSPIRATIONAL LIFE OF A SAINT, PROVIDING A MODEL FOR DAILY LIVING". (Quote from MAGNIFICAT website). Every day the “SAINT WHO?" page can surprise with the story of Saints you have never heard of.
Today I have chosen to introduce Saint PETER JULIAN EYMARD. I am confident that most of you have never heard about him and may ask: SAINT WHO? There are many reasons to do this introduction today:
1. If you have begun the 33-day Consecration to Saint Joseph last Friday, you will have already noticed several quotes from St Peter Julian (1811-1868). By the end of the 33 days on December 8 (last day of the Year of St Joseph), you will find out that St Peter Julian is the most quoted of all the Saints. He had a great devotion to Mary and JOSEPH (devotion to St Joseph was rare in the mid-19th century). If you have not yet begun this 33-day Consecration, I invite you to watch the daily recordings by Fr. Ben and myself on our OLHOC YouTube Channel (done as we began our celebration of the Year of St Joseph last Fall, click here) or read the Book "Consecration to St Joseph by Father Donald Calloway, MIC".
2. We have already embarked on our Year of EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL at OLHOC. I would like to suggest that we choose the example of St Peter Julian to guide our journey. He is often referred to as "THE PRIEST OF THE EUCHARIST”. Let me quote from the " Saint of the Day" book: " After being a young priest for the Diocese of Grenoble (1834), he joined the Marists (1839) then he founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (1856) ...As a Marist priest, then provincial leader, he deepened his EUCHARISTIC DEVOTION, especially through his preaching of FORTY HOURS ADORATION in many parishes. The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began working with children in Paris to prepare them to receive their First Communion. It also reached out to non-practicing Catholics, inviting them to repent and receiving HOLY COMMUNION again. He was a tireless proponent of frequent Holy Communion, an idea given authoritative backing by Pope Pius X in 1905."
3. Many of you remember Father Pittman of the Body of Christ Farm in Waldorf. He used to help us out at daily Masses. He is now recovering from a stroke. He was the first ordained priest out of St Peter's parish (it took 250 years...). He was ordained a religious priest of the CONGREGATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. The chapel at the Body of Christ Farm is named after "St Pete Julian Eymard" and, has his statue very similar to the picture below: standing up and holding the Blessed Sacrament. I celebrate the Mass in this chapel every first Thursday at 7:30 am followed by one hour of Adoration and Benediction. You are all invited to join and discover the statue of St Peter Julian Eymard ...and much more (including links with Father Martin Society) .
4. I have just received a gift from one of our parishioners: "THE REAL PRESENCE by St Peter Julian Eymard". It is a collection of SERMONS that deal almost exclusively with the wonders operated by Our Lord's love in the EUCHARIST. I have glanced through some of these sermons, and we may use some of them for our own reflections during the four weeks of the ADVENT Season (starting November 28), as our ADVENT THEME this year is going to center on RECONCILATION, EUCHARIST and ADORATION. Stay tuned!
May we pray through the intercession of St Julian Peter Eymard that the HOLY SPIRIT will guide all of us at OLHOC as we walk together in this YEAR OF EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL!
One in Christ,
Fr. Alain