“It is she who has provided flesh for our bread… Mary’s consent to the Incarnation of the Word is what makes our eating possible.” - Rev. James T. O’Connor, S.T.D.
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a relatively recent title of Mary. The first use of this title is accredited to St. Peter Julian Eymard, a French priest with a strong devotion to Mary and the Eucharist. While praying, Jesus spoke to St. Peter Julian’s heart, telling him to establish a religious society of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Our Lady also spoke to St. Peter Julian, telling him “All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none…”
With permission from Pope Pius IX, St. Peter Julian founded the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament on May 13, 1856. The title Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament was coined by St. Peter Julian later in his life when he was talking to his novices. A few years after that, St. Peter Julian also described what a statue of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament should look like: “The Blessed Virgin holds the Infant in her arms; and He holds a chalice in one hand and a Host in the other.”
In 1921, the feast day for Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament was authorized for celebration by the Blessed Sacrament Congregations. Later, in 1962, the title was officially codified by Pope John XXIII on the same day that St. Peter Julian was declared a saint.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Eucharist
O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us.
Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion the the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may all be made worthy to receive Holy Communion every day.
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
