+ Saint Peter Julian Eymard grew up in a poor family during the anti-clerical, anti-Catholic aftermath of the French Revolution. He entered the seminary against his family wishes and withdrew later due to an illness that he never really recovered from. But later he returned to the seminary and was ordained on July 20, 1834 in the diocese of Grenoble, France. He joined the Marist Fathers on August 20, 1839. He was a friend of St. John Mary Vianney. He became superior of the Society of Mary in 1845. In addition to his strong Marian devotion, he also had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and founded new religious societies: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in 1856 and Servants of the Blessed Sacrament in 1858. His vision of priests, deacons, sisters and lay people dedicated to the spiritual values celebrated in the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament anticipated many of the renewals brought about by both the first and second Vatican Councils. Peter died in 1868.
Our gospel passage today reminds us that we are branches on the vine that is Christ. The divine life that flows through the veins of these branches is the life of the Eucharist. And anyone who is devoted to the Eucharist will have abundant life and produce much fruit, and will also share the love and protection of the Mother of Vine – the Mystical Rose herself: The Blessed Virgin Mary.
May our devotion to the Eucharist, and to the Blessed Mother Mary increase today as a result of honoring Marist Father Peter Julian Eymard.
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