Novena with Saint Peter Julian Eymard
for Prayer in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament
Saint Peter Julian Eymard promoted the frequent reception of Holy Communion and a profound respect for the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. He encouraged prayer in the presence of the Sacrament and felt that this prayer transformed lives. In his memory and honor, we encourage this novena and prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, remembering moments or sayings in Peter Julian's life which focus on Christ and the Eucharist.
Included in this novena are eight highlighted moments in the life of Saint Peter Julian – reminding us of moments in his life, and the life of Christ. They also reflect for us how we are called to promote Christ in the Eucharist.
May this novena deepen our love for Christ and nourish our faith journey. May this novena encourage us, like Saint Eymard, to be apostles of the Eucharist, sharing the gift of ourselves, like Christ, with our talents, gifts and resources, feeding the hungers of the human family.
Participation Notes
When done in a communal celebration, or individually, this novena may begin with a song such as “Gift of Finest Wheat,” “Amen, El Cuerpo de Cristo,” “Ubi Caritas,” or some other Eucharistic song that reminds us of how the Eucharist is celebrated and shared in multiple ways and theologies. Please use the music resource in the chapel, church or parish where the novena is being prayed.
If done when exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins, or some other holy hour, please consult the ritual Order of Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, and use these texts during the ritual.
This novena is appropriately done:
- Thursdays, the remembrance day of the Lord’s Supper
- The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
- February 5, the anniversary of Saint Peter Julian Eymard’s baptism
- May 13, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
- August 2, the memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard
- Other special occasions in the life of your parish
Leader: First station: Gift of Self
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: Jesus gave his life to us from the Cross. After celebrating the Passover and giving himself to his apostles at the Last Supper, through bread and wine, he processed, bearing our sins to the ultimate sacrifice of his life on the cross. His Body and Blood feed us from the Cross, the altar
of Calvary. His mother stood at his side, offering a perfect sacrifice to the Lord God. The beloved disciple, you and I, stand there too, feeding off of the love of the Lord. We, too, as Peter Julian Eymard said, are to give of ourselves for one another, nourishing others through the Body of Christ.Leader: I love you Lord, my strength! (Psalm 18: 2)
All: I love you Lord, my strength!Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Second Station: Called to be a Priest
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: By our baptism, we are anointed “priest, prophet and king.” We are called to serve the Lord, to listen to his call, and be the disciples who shares our gifts and talents with the community. God has uniquely blessed each one of us. Peter Julian knew that God called him to a special ministry – to be an ordained minister for the church. He would go to church and listen to God speak to him in a special way. We are in special communion with our God through our vocation. We are continuously asked to listen to where God is leading us! To open our hearts to where God desires us to share our gifts for the life of the world. In communion with Christ, the saints, and Mary, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, may we build on the foundation of the apostles and others, to serve God faithfully in our call as priestly people, making a perfect sacrifice to God with our many gifts. We pray for others to be strengthened in their call to be single or married, serving the church in this vocation. We pray, too, for others to hear the call to serve the church as a sister, nun, brother, monk, deacon, diocesan priest or religious priest, especially following in the footsteps of Saint Peter Julian Eymard.
Leader: My vows I will pay before those who fear God.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever! (Psalm. 22:25-26)All: My vows I will pay before those who fear God.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Third Station: Tomorrow Will Be Too Late
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: We are all on a journey through life. Saint Peter Julian was constantly on the go. He would take time, during his travels, to visit his family. His sisters would always implore him to stay longer. He would say that God was calling him now to work for the many. As Christ would share his life for the many, Peter Julian, like us, are called to share and promote the Good News of Christ; to especially promote Eucharistic sharing. We pray for our families. We pray for the rough journeys and those many rocky roads in our lives. We pray that we may not be anxious, but always look ahead to tomorrow and the days ahead. We pray that the Eucharist will take away our fears and our worries and help us to move forward in the direction that God would have us.
Leader: But you, O LORD, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid! (Psalm 22:19)
All: But you, O LORD, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Fourth Station: Inspiration to Found the Religious Order Dedicated to the Eucharist
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: While leading a procession with the Blessed Sacrament, in Lyons, France, Saint Peter Julian was inspired to establish an order completely dedicated to promoting the Eucharist. Mary and Joseph devoted their lives to the care of their child Jesus. He grew in wisdom and knowledge and dedicated himself to doing his Father’s will. We too are called to grow and dedicate ourselves to Christ. We walk in faith, knowing that the road may not always be easy. Like Jesus, we can be lost in the shuffle (cf. Jesus’ journey with his parents in Jerusalem), however it is helpful for us to know that we are found in the Lord, found in Christ’s Risen Presence. The Eucharist, showing us Christ, always gives us focus and clarity in our mission to care for ourselves and for others. May we remind ours that our direction, our life, always points to Christ and that as we grow in wisdom and knowledge, we do not keep it for ourselves, but for sharing those gifts with the church and the world. May we dedicate ourselves to living the Eucharist and its values in all we do.
Leader: Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and the LORD will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4)
All: Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and the LORD will give you the desires of your heart.
Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Fifth Station: First Communion in Paris
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: Saint Peter Julian had the inspiration to share the Body and Blood of Christ with those in need in the streets of Paris, especially the young. With the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, they would catechize and share the riches of the sacrament with those who did not have a home or family to care for them. We remember those today who still lack affordable housing, meaningful employment, concern for finding their daily bread, a place to lay their head. Christ foretold that discipleship would be challenging and that we are to care for those in need. There would be much rejection and lack of respect. As we remember our reception of Holy Communion, may it never be disjointed from the communion we share with the suffering and the poor. May we be mindful of those in need in our neighborhoods, across town, and across the globe. As humanity hunger, so does Christ hunger. May we catechize and care for the least of our brothers and sisters and so care for Christ.
Leader: Commit your way to the LORD; trust and the LORD will act. (Psalm 37:5)
All: Commit your way to the LORD; trust and the LORD will act.
Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Sixth Station: Priests for Others
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: Saint Peter Julian and Saint John Vianney were unique presbyters, caring for the needs of their parishioners. They shared their special gifts, especially listening to others, and giving spiritual advice and concern. Many would seek them out to hear their wisdom and know of God’s love. We, too, are called to always show the face of Christ to others and to witness of our faith. We are called to heal, forgive and bring reconciliation to others. Christ manifested true reconciliation through the Eucharist and asked that the Father forgive his children for not knowing what we do, say or how we act. As we pray with the Eucharist, may we be mindful of those areas in our lives that need reconciliation. May we reconcile with our family, friends and co-workers, and pray for this same spirit of reconciliation among our world leaders and bring about an embrace of God’s forgiveness. We, through the Eucharist, are bearers of God’s peace and reconciliation.
Leader: With the LORD there is mercy, and the fullness of redemption. (Psalm Psalm 130:7)
All: With the LORD there is mercy, and the fullness of redemption.
Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Seventh Station: Apostle of the Eucharist
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!
All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: During the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII promoted the “source and summit” of our life, the Eucharist. Through study, writings and the renewal of the liturgy and our understanding of the Mass, we realize that we are called to live what we celebrate in the Eucharist. Our life is to be thanksgiving! Our life, as a gift, is blessed, broken and shared for the hungers of humanity. Like the bread and wine, we are transformed and renewed as the Body of Christ, to go forth into the world to share the Good News of the reign of God. Saint Peter Julian was named, “the apostle of the Eucharist.” We, too, are called, through the power of the Eucharist to evangelize, sharing the meal and sacrifice that renews our covenant with the Lord. We “do this” in memory of the Risen Lord. We live the life of Christ, through the vision which is Eucharist – called to share the riches of this sacrament and to feed those in need and make our entire lives a perfect adoration of the one who has blessed us with gifts.
Leader: I will bless the LORD at all times; praise continually in my mouth.
My soul boasts in the LORD; the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
(Psalm 34: 1-3)All: I will bless the LORD at all times; praise continually in my mouth.
My soul boasts in the LORD; the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Silent meditation
A verse from a song mentioned above may be sung or read aloud communally or by one’s self.
Leader: Eighth Station:
For Thy Eucharistic Kingdom Come (ARTE)
Leader: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you!All: Because by the Holy Eucharist, you feed the world.
Leader: The Eucharist is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. One day we will join with the Risen Lord and be reunited with all the saints in glory. Now we are united with them through this sacred communion. Like those who have gone before us in faith, we are called to witness the reign of God and bring forth the kingdom – a kingdom of love, peace, justice, hope and promise. Like Kateri Tekakwitha, Dorothy Day, Peter Julian Eymard, Katherine Drexel, Juan Diego, Oscar Romero, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament & Joseph, Ann & Joachim and others, we are Eucharistic saints who lead others to the Eucharistic Christ. We share our special charism, our gifts, and offer them to the Lord. God blesses and transforms our gifts for others. We share this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to bring forth God’s Eucharistic reign.
Leader: One thing I ask of the LORD, this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
All: One thing I ask of the LORD, this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
Silent meditation
Period of Intercessions
The Lord’s Prayer
[Benediction/Reposition: “God We Praise You,” “Jesus Christ Yesterday, Today, Forever,” or other similar hymn should be sung. See Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist for other liturgical rubrics if this novena ends exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. ]
Closing Prayer
Leader:
Gracious God of our ancestors,
you led Saint Peter Julian Eymard,
like Jacob in times past,
on a journey of faith.
Under the guidance of your gentle Spirit
let us, like Peter Julian, continue to discover the gift of love
in the Eucharist which your Son offered for the hungers of humanity.
Grant that we may celebrate this mystery worthily,
adore it profoundly,
proclaim it prophetically
share it generously
until you return in glory.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.
Blessing
Closing Song
The Stations of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, SSS, founder of the Congregations of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) is a project of the Blessed Sacrament Community of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This project is dedicated in loving memory of Rev. Normand Falardeau, SSS (1923-2004) who served in this SSS community for 25 years through his ministry in Saint Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church and the Tribunal office of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The project began in May 2004, was completed in July 2005, and was blessed and dedicated August 23, 2005. This novena was written on January 8, 2006, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, for the 150th anniversary of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.
