August 2 | Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine that you are 12 years old. You know exactly what you are meant to do with your whole life. You feel this intense, undeniable calling in your heart, so strong that on one of the most important days of your life, you make a solemn, unbreakable promise to Jesus about your future.

But there's a massive roadblock standing in your way. Your own father flat out forbids you from following this dream. And if that wasn't enough, when you finally get a tiny sliver of a chance to chase that calling, you are suddenly struck down by a terrifying, severe illness. You're sent packing back home, too sick to continue your journey. Your dream seems completely dead. And then, tragedy strikes again, and you have to watch your father pass away.

Sounds like the tragic end to a movie, right? Well, for today's saint, that wasn't the ending. It was barely even the beginning. This is the story of Saint Peter Julian Aymard, a man who refused to let illness, obstacles, or massive setbacks keep him from his ultimate mission.

His story kicks off in France, where St. Peter Julian was born on February 4, 1811. He grew up in a very religious household. From the time he was just a little kid, he had this intense, beautiful devotion to the Eucharist. When he was 12 years old, he received his first communion. Now think about what you were doing at age 12. Maybe playing sports, just trying to survive middle school and hanging out with friends. At 12, Peter Julian was making a life-altering vow.

Right then and there, He promised Jesus that he would become a priest. But remember that roadblock we talked about in the introduction? His dad initially forbade him from pursuing this vocation. It was a huge test of his patience and faith. Eventually, his father relented just enough, and Peter Julian was finally permitted to join a religious order called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

But tragedy struck fast. Only five months after he entered the order, he fell incredibly ill with a severe physical infirmity. He was forced to leave and was sent home. He survived the mysterious sickness, but while he was home, he had to endure another massive heartbreak. He was present for the death of his own father.

A lot of people would have given up right there, but not Peter Julian. He applied to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Grenoble, and finally, his childhood promise became a reality. Three years later, at the young age of 23, he was officially ordained a priest. He had a wildly fruitful and zealous ministry working in parish life, but God wasn't done with him yet. Peter Julian perceived another tug on his heart, a Calling to religious life, and he entered the Marists.

Then, in 1856, he made a massive, bold move by departing from the Marists to start a brand new religious community. He founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, entirely dedicated to Eucharistic adoration and promoting the Holy Eucharist. They didn't just stay locked in a church all day. He and his community actively went out to work with the poor and the uneducated, helping to prepare them so they could receive their first communion. He wanted everyone, no matter how poor or forgotten by society, to experience the same fiery love for the Eucharist that he felt when he was just 12 years old.

St. Peter Julian passed away on August 1, 1868, but his legacy is absolutely huge. Pope John XXIII canonized him as a saint in 1962, and Pope John Paul II even gave him the epic title the Apostle of the Eucharist. St. Peter Julian Amard is the patron saint of Eucharistic revival.

Whenever you see him in stained glass or art, you might spot him with his special attributes, like the Eucharist, A monstrance, a cope, or a humoral veil? Think about St. Peter Julian's resilience. He faced so many closed doors. His dad said no to his dream. His health totally failed him when he finally got a chance. But he didn't quit. He kept moving forward, trusting that God had a plan. Now, think about a setback you are facing right now. Instead of giving up, take a page out of St.

Peter Julian's book. Keep trying. Find a new path forward. And don't lose hope. And, just like he did with the poor and uneducated, look around and see if there is someone in your school or neighborhood who needs a little extra help or encouragement today. Be the person who lifts them up. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.