Catholic Fire

By Jean M. Heimann Today's saint of the day, St. Peter Julian Eymard, is known as the "Apostle of the Eucharist", for his deep devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and for leading both clergy and laypeople to recognize and rediscover the significance of the Eucharist in their daily lives. He shared with others his own belief that the Eucharist is the chief means of progress in the spiritual life --  the manna which nourishes the soul in the desert and supplies the strength for the journey of life. Peter Julian Eymard was born to a poor family in La Mure d'Isère in southeastern France near Grenoble. From early childhood he led a holy life and demonstrated a strong devotion to the Eucharist. He was called to relgious life from an early age, but his father insisted that he take over the family business instead and refused to allow him enter the priesthood. When he did eventually enter the seminary at the age of 18, he became so sick that he was sent back home...

Optional Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop and Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, priest Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Peter Julian Eymard, The Apostle of the Eucharist Today in Catholic History: 1942 Edith Stein, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ,(1891–1942) was seized by the German S.S. and was taken to a concentration camp in the Netherlands. The Jewish-Catholic philosopher had remained in danger in Germany although she had a visa to Switzerland because she would not desert her sister, who could not get a visa. Birthdays: 1703- Lorenzo Ricci , Italian Jesuit leader (d. 1775) 1834 - Frédéric Bartholdi , French sculptor, most famous for The Statue of Liberty, (d. 1904) 1835 - Elisha Gray , American inventor and entrepreneur (d. 1901) 1882 - Red Ames , baseball player (d. 1936) 1924 - Carroll O'Connor , American actor (d. 2001) 1931 - Pierre DuMaine , Catholic bishop 1932 - Peter O'Toole, Actor, (Lawrence of Arabia) 1943 - Kathy Len...