THE PRIESTS’ EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE

New Zealand Tablet, 11 February 1915, Page 17

THE PRIESTS’ EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE

The writer ventures to bring under the notice of his fellow-priests, secular and religious, throughout New Zealand, the association known as the Eucharistic League of Priest-Adorers.

The league owes its origin to a French priest, Pierre Julien Eymard. Five years after his ordination in 1834, this saintly man joined the Congregation of the Marists, and became their Provincial in 1845. But God had special work for him to do, and in obedience to a heavenly inspiration he founded in 1856 the Congregation of the Most Holy Sacrament. The objects of the new society were to promote worship of the Real Presence amongst the faithful, . and to secure perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The work was warmly approved of by Pope Pius IX.

As his congregation grew, Father Eymard determined to increase the number of Adorers by asking the secular clergy to, spend an hour weekly in adoration before the altar. ‘ These associates,’ he wrote, 1 will live the Eucharistic life of Jesus Christ. . They will remember that their first duty is one of personal adoration nos antern orationi instant'es trim us (Acts vi. 4) ; so that they may ensure by prayer the suc\rss of their ministry. And they will come down from the Eucharist like Moses from Mount Sinai, like the Apostles from the Last Supper, full of fire to announce His word and His glory.’ This association of Priest-Adorers, of which the Cure of Ars became a member, was approved and canonically erected in 1887 by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, commended by Leo XIII., and enriched with many privileges by Pius X. Over 80,000 priests throughout the world belong to the Confraternity.

The purpose of the league is the sanctification of the priest through the weekly hour of adoration, and that sufficiently defines its object, which is the worship of the Blessed Sacrament by the chosen friends of the Great High-Priest. But here the writer would sooner use the words of another: ‘ God with us, under- the thin veils of the Eucharist would have us near Him, that where He is, we also may be. Those whom He would receive first and oftencst are they whom He described as His friends. From Him in the life-giving Sacrament, the beginning, centre, and end of the Catholic priesthood, they will draw the heavenly wateis, from Him they will receive a. brighter illumination, and a more potent influence in carrying on His work. A closer intercourse with the source of holiness will lead to the higher sanctification of the clergy. .They are all ministers of things most sacred; and their ministry is the more abundantly fertile according to the degree in which they are imbued _ with' the spirit of Christ. Their • noblest function is the Mass; their

highest, ministry the distribution of the Body of the Lord. With a more intimate and affectionate attachment to the Divine Master, they become more ardent and enlightened . apostles in promoting in others ‘ the same close friendship with Christ through increased devotion to the Blessed Sacrament’ (Mgr. Parkinson. Eucharistic Congress of London). -t • The conditions of admission and membership are very simple:—(l) To be a priest, or in Holy Orders. By a recent modification students in seminaries arc allowed to join. , (2) To make every week one full and uninterrupted hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed or in the Tabernacle. (3) To report every month on a prescribed schedule the performance of the hour of adoration. (4) To apply once a month the plenary indulgence of the hour to the souls of deceased members of the Association. (5) To offer Mass once a year for the same object.* Obviously the primary task of the league is the hour’s adoration each week, the hour spent before the Eucharistic God ‘ in adoration of His majesty, thanksgiving for His unbounded goodness, reparation for the perverse wilfulness of men, supplication for all human needs.’ And those who are already members will readily endorse the words of Mgr. Parkinson ; * The regular and generous performance of this spiritual exercise almost forces upon the priest an intense realisation of his exalted powers, of the excellence of his ministerial office, of the sublimity of the daily Mass, and of his personal littleness and unworthiness.’

The privileges enjoyed by members are numerous and in some cases unusual:—(l) A plenary indulgence for every hour of adoration. (2) A plenary indulgence on the day of admission, on certain feasts, etc. (3) The innumerable Indulgences, called ‘ della Stazione del Sanctissimo Sacramento,’ for each time they visit the Blessed Sacrament and recite six ‘ Pater, ‘ Ave,’ and ‘ Gloria Patri.’ The plenary indulgence included in these can be gained once a day on the ordinary conditions. All these indulgences may bo applied to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. (4) To anticipate Matins and Lauds from one o’clock. (5) To bless and impose the Scapular of St. Joseph ; to bless the small beads of the Immaculate Conception : to admit members to the Third Order of St. Francis. (6) To attach to rosaries the Crozier Indulgences (500 days for each ‘Pater’ and ‘Ave,’ even when said alone). (7) All the Masses said for deceased members are privileged.

The Eucharistic League is now canonically expected in Australasia, and enrolment can be made through the Right Rev. Dr. Dwyer, Bishop of Maitland, West Maitland, N.S.W.