Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

Saint Peter Julian Eymard was a French Catholic priest. He is best known for his deep love of the Eucharist. He started a religious order focused on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. His life was centered on helping others love Jesus in the Eucharist.

He was born in 1811 and died in 1868. He lived during a time of change in the Church and in France. His work helped many people grow in faith. He is also known by the name Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard, which is his name in French.

Peter Julian Eymard believed that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. He wanted more people to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He helped many people grow closer to Jesus through adoration.

His life shows the power of quiet prayer. He believed that sitting with Jesus in silence could change a person. He wanted people to love Jesus more through this quiet time with Him.

Peter Julian Eymard was born on February 4, 1811, in La Mure, France. His family was poor, and he had to work hard from a young age. His mother died when he was very young. This made his childhood hard.

He loved Jesus very much, even as a boy. He would walk miles just to attend Mass. He once made his First Communion by walking barefoot over twenty miles. He wanted to be close to Jesus in the Eucharist.

His father did not want him to become a priest. His father needed help with the family work. But Peter Julian still hoped to be a priest. He trusted that God would make a way.

He had many health problems, which made things harder. Still, he did not give up. He believed God was calling him to serve. After his father died, he was finally able to begin studying for the priesthood.

Peter Julian first became a parish priest. He worked hard and helped many people. He gave good homilies and spent time with the sick and poor. But he felt called to something more.

He joined the Society of Mary, also called the Marists. The Marists had a strong love for Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Peter Julian also loved Mary deeply. He worked as a preacher and teacher for the order.

As a Marist, he began to speak more about the Eucharist. He gave retreats and missions that focused on the love of Jesus. He also helped young people and the poor.

Over time, he felt that God was calling him to focus only on the Eucharist. He shared this idea with his superiors. They did not agree with his plan. It was very hard for him, but he left the Marists to follow this call.

In 1856, Peter Julian founded a new religious order. It was called the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The order focused on prayer before the Eucharist and teaching others about it.

He started small, with only a few men. They had very little money. At times they had no food. But Peter Julian trusted in Jesus. He believed Jesus would provide everything they needed.

The Congregation helped people know Jesus in the Eucharist. They started times of adoration in churches. They taught others how to pray in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. They also helped poor and working people find strength through the Eucharist.

The Church did not accept the order right away. Some Church leaders were unsure about it. But after some years, it was approved. Peter Julian kept going, even when things were difficult.

Peter Julian wrote and spoke a lot about the Eucharist. He said the Eucharist was not just for Mass. He said people should spend time with Jesus in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, even outside of Mass.

He believed the Eucharist could help people become better. It could help them forgive others. It could help them have peace in their lives. It could help them care for the poor.

He also believed that Eucharistic adoration should lead to action. He said that people who pray should also serve. Love for Jesus should lead to love for others.

Many people today still read his writings. His words are simple but full of meaning. He wanted all people, not just priests or nuns, to feel welcome to adore Jesus in the Eucharist.

Learn more about Eucharistic adoration here.

Peter Julian Eymard died on August 1, 1868. He had worked hard all his life. He gave everything to help people love Jesus in the Eucharist. Many people mourned his death.

The Church later recognized his holy life. He was beatified in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. He was canonized a saint in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. His feast day is celebrated on August 2.

Today, he is known as the Apostle of the Eucharist. He is the patron saint of Eucharistic adoration. His order, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, still exists and works around the world.

His legacy lives on in churches that have adoration chapels. It lives on in the people who kneel in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. He taught the world that Jesus is near, waiting for us, in the Eucharist.

The Source of All Virtue

Saint Peter Julian Eymard saw the Eucharist as the center of Christian life. He believed it held all the virtues we need—patience, humility, kindness, courage. That’s why he spent his life drawing people closer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

We become like those we spend time with. If we spend more time with Jesus in the Eucharist, we will grow in virtue too. Whether at daily Mass or in quiet adoration, Jesus is always ready to help us become more like him—one moment at a time.

The Real Presence

The Real Presence is a collection of sermons by Saint Peter Julian Eymard. He speaks about the love of Jesus in the Eucharist. His whole life was focused on the Blessed Sacrament. He believed that the Eucharist helps people grow in faith and live holy lives. In his talks and letters, he always found a way to connect everything back to Jesus in the Eucharist. He called everyone to love Jesus more and to follow Him. This book helps readers understand how important the Eucharist is and how it can lead us closer to Jesus.