Saint Peter Julian Eymard: The Our Father

Today, August 2, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868), “Apostle of the Eucharist,” and founder of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, a new society dedicated to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A prolific writer, Saint Peter Julian paraphrased the Our Father, as an extended prayer and teaching tool for those preparing for their First Holy Eucharist.

Our Father Who art in Heaven
In the heaven of the Eucharist, to You Who are seated on the throne of grace and love, be benediction, and honor, and power and glory for ever and ever!

Hallowed be Your Name
first in myself, through the spirit of Your humility, obedience, and charity. May I in all humility and zeal make You known, loved and adored by all men in the Holy Eucharist.

Thy Kingdom come
Thy Eucharistic kingdom. Rule forever over us for Your greater glory through the power of Your love, the triumph of Your virtues and the grace of a Eucharistic vocation in my state as a layman. Grant me the grace of Your love so that I may be able to effectively extend Your Eucharistic kingdom everywhere and realize the desire You expressed: 'I have come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled!' O that I might be the incendiaries of this heavenly fire!

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Grant me the grace to find all my joy in wanting You alone, in desiring You alone and in thinking of You alone. Grant that by denying myself, I may find light and life in obeying Your good, acceptable and perfect Will. I will what You will. I will it because You will it. I will it as You will it. I will it as long as You will it. Keep my thoughts and desires purely from You, for You and in You.

Give us this day our daily bread
You are our Eucharistic Lord and You alone will be my food and clothing, my riches and glory, my remedy in illness and my protection against all evil. You will be all things to me.

And forgive us our trespasses
Forgive me Jesus, for I am sorry for all my sins just as they stand in Your eyes.

As we forgive those who trespass against us
For anyone who has offended me in any way, with my whole heart I forgive them and desire for them the gifts of Your love.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Deliver me Jesus, from the demon of pride, impurity, discord and complacency. Deliver me from the cares and worries of life so that with a pure heart and a free mind I may joyfully spend my life and devote all that I am and all that I have in the service of You my Eucharistic Lord.

Amen
In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped; let me not be confounded forever. You alone are good. You alone are powerful. You alone are eternal. To You alone be honor and glory, love and thanksgiving forever and ever.