Peter Julian Eymard was born at La Mure d'Isere in the Diocese of Grenoble, France, on February 4, 1811. In 1831, he entered the Grenoble Seminary, and was ordained a priest in 1835. After five years of pastoral ministry, he joined the Marist Fathers and served as spiritual director of their junior seminary at Belley, and later as provincial at Lyons.In 1856, Peter was dispensed from his vows as a Marist, and thereupon organized a religious institute to the Blessed Sacrament. Archbishop Sibour of Paris approved Peter's group, which was engaged in perpetual adoration of and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Eventually Pope Pius IX approved the institute as a Congregation of Priests.
Peter also founded a congregation of nuns and a priests' Eucharistic league, along with the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, while writing several books on the Most Blessed Sacrament. He died on August 1, 1868, and was canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.
PRAYER: God by your marvelous gift, Christ Jesus entrusted the Memorial of our Redemption to the Church forever. Grant that like St. Peter Julian, a faithful adorer of this great mystery, we may share in the fullness of your love. Amen.