Peter Julian Eymard
Peter Julian Eymard Saint Peter Julian Eymard (ɛy'mɒ), (La Mure, included charge of the Third Order of Mary, a lay group Grenoble, France, 4 February 1811 – La Mure, 1 Au- dedicated to Marist spirituality and to promotion of the gust 1868) was a French Catholic priest, founder of two Christian family. St. John Vianney was a member. religious institutes, and a canonized saint. His eucharistic spirituality did not spring full-grown from some mystical experience, but progressively.[6] As visitor-general, Eymard travelled throughout France to 1 Life inspect the various Marist communities. He became fa- miliar with the practice of sustained eucharistic worship during a visit to Paris in 1849, when he met with members Eymard was born 4 February 1811 at La Mure, Isère in of the Association of Nocturnal Adorers who had estab- the French Alps. His father was a smith whose second lished exposition and perpetual adoration of the Blessed wife was Julian’s mother.[1] All his life Peter Julian had Sacrament at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories. Af- an intense devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Before ter praying at the shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere on 21 his first communion on 16 March 1823, he went on foot January 1851, Eymard moved to establish a Marist com- to the shrine of Notre-Dame du Laus.[2] Later, he came to munity dedicated to eucharistic adoration. However, his know about the apparition of Notre-Dame de La Salette desire to establish a separate fraternity promoting ado- and enjoyed traveling to various Marian shrines through- ration of the Blessed Sacrament was not seen as part of out France.[3] the charism of the Marists.[5] His superiors disapproved, When his mother died in 1828 Julian resolved to enter the transferring him to the Marist College at La Seyne-sur- novitiate of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and, despite Mer.
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