Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament

Coat of Arms of the Sacramentinos
Abbreviation	Post-nominal letters: S.S.S.
Formation	13 May 1856; 169 years ago (13 May 1856)
Founder	Saint Fr. Pierre-Julien Eymard, S.S.S.
Founded at	Paris, France
Type	Clerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Purpose	To live the mystery of the Eucharist fully and to make known its meaning, so that Christ's reign may come to the glory of God and be revealed to the world.
Headquarters	Mother house Via G. B. De Rossi 46, 00161 Rome, Italy
Members	883 members (includes 591 priests) as of 2020
Motto	Latin: Adveniat Regnum Tuum Eucharisticum English: Thy Eucharistic Kingdom Come
Superior General	Very Rev. Fr. Eugênio Barbosa Martins, S.S.S.
Ministry	Eucharistic apostolate
Nickname	Sacramentino
Main organ	Emmanuel (English)
Parent organization	Catholic Church

The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament is a group of Catholic priests and brothers. They are also known as the Sacramentinos. This group was started by Peter Julian Eymard. Its members use the letters S.S.S. after their names.

The Sacramentinos help the Catholic Church by creating Christian communities. These communities focus on the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a special meal in the Catholic faith. They work with other Catholic people to achieve this goal.

History of the Sacramentinos

The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began in Paris France. It was founded on May 13, 1856. A French priest, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, started the group. He wanted to help people understand God's love. He saw this love especially in the Eucharist. During Eymard's time, the Catholic faith in France was changing. It moved from focusing on guilt to focusing on God's mercy and love. Eymard was a key person in this change.

Meet the Founder: St. Peter Julian Eymard

St. Peter Julian Eymard

Peter Julian Eymard was born on February 4, 1811. He was born in La Mure, France. He knew other important people of his time. These included Peter Chanel and John Vianney.

On July 20, 1834, Eymard became a priest. He served in the Diocese of Grenoble. In 1839, he joined the Marist Fathers. He worked with groups that promoted devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also promoted devotion to the Eucharist. This included a special prayer called the Forty Hours Devotion.

Insignia of the Sacramentinos

Eymard learned about long periods of Eucharistic worship in 1849. He visited Paris and met people who prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. They did this at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories. With permission from the bishops in Paris, Eymard left the Marist order. This happened on May 13, 1856. He then started the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for men. Their first community was in Paris. In 1858, he also helped start a group for women. This group was called the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament.

Eymard passed away on August 1, 1868. He was recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. He was declared "venerable" in 1908. He was "beatified" in 1925. Finally, he was made a saint by Pope John XXIII on December 9, 1962. His special day is celebrated on December 9 each year.

Eymard's main goal was to show how important the Eucharist is. He believed it was the center of Christian life. He saw it as a sign of God's great love for people. Because of his strong focus on the Eucharist, he is known as a great "apostle of the Eucharist."

The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament started helping children in Paris. They prepared them for their First Communion. They also reached out to Catholics who had stopped practicing their faith. They invited them to return to receiving Communion. In 1859, Eymard opened a second community in Marseilles. He also started communities in Antwerp and Brussels. A training house for new members was opened in Saint-Maurice.

What the Sacramentinos Believe: Eucharistic Charism

Members of the Congregation believe that Jesus in the Eucharist can change society. They think it can also change people. It gives them strength to work for God's Kingdom on Earth. Each member shows God's love in the Eucharist. They do this by giving themselves to God and to others. They pray before the Blessed Sacrament. They also work actively to make Jesus in the Eucharist more known and loved.

Eymard strongly encouraged people to receive Holy Communion often. This idea was later supported by Pope Pius X in 1905.

The Mission of the Congregation

The Sacramentinos follow Eymard's example. Their mission is to meet people's needs. They do this by sharing God's love, which is shown in the Eucharist.

They feel called to show the importance of the Eucharist. Members work to renew the Church and society through this sacrament. They create communities that are welcoming and offer forgiveness. They also serve others. They celebrate the Eucharist as the most important part of Church life.

Through their lives and actions, they help the Church's mission. They ensure the Eucharist is celebrated truly. They help people grow closer to God through Eucharistic adoration. They also work to renew their Christian communities. They help free people and society from bad influences.

They stand with those who are poor and weak. They oppose anything that harms human dignity. They announce a more fair and friendly world. They do this as they wait for Jesus to return.

The Congregation Today

Since it was founded, the Congregation has spread around the world. They continue the work started by St. Peter Julian Eymard. Today, there are almost a thousand members. They are present in thirty different countries.

Notable Members of the Congregation