St. Peter Julian Eymard

Peter Eymard (1811-1868) grew up in a poor family in the aftermath of the French Revolution. His first attempt at the priesthood ended when he had to withdraw from seminary due to illness; he never completely recovered his health. He returned, however, and was ordained on July 20, 1834, in the diocese of Grenoble, France. He joined the Marist Fathers in 1839. 

Peter had a strong Marian devotion, and travelled to the assorted Marian shrines and apparition sites in France. He organized lay societies, preached and taught, and worked for Eucharistic devotion. He founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in 1856, and the lay 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 Vatican Councils I and II.

His Feast Day is August 2.