Saint Peter
Julian Eymard's
Small Book of Prayers
From the Life and Letters of Saint Peter
Julian Eymard,
Volume 1: The Early Years 1828-1852.
Translated from the French by Sr. Catherine Marie Caron, S.S.S.
EVENTS 1823-1824
March 16, 1823 ― Passion Sunday. First Communion received
from Fr. Allard.
Before his First Communion at the age of 12, Peter Julian composed a small book of prayers. Although this is not a "letter," it is the earliest handwritten document that we have of his, and is reproduced here as a fitting introduction to the voluminous correspondence which was to flow from his pen in the ensuing years.
Little Book
of Acts Before and After Communion
Written by me, Julian Eymard
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
I believe
in God the Father almighty,
the creator of heaven and earth,
in Jesus Christ
his only Son, both God and man,
who redeemed the world by his cross.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the
remission of sins,
the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Amen.
I renounce
with my whole heart the devil,
his pomps and his works.
I want to live and
die as a true Christian,
with the help of God's grace.
Act Before Communion, of Faith, of Adoration
My dear Jesus,
I firmly believe that
your body, your blood,
your soul, your divinity
are truly and substantially
present in the blessed host
which I am going to receive,
because you told
me so.
I adore you with all the respect of which I am capable.
Act of Hope, of Humility
My dear Jesus,
I hope that when I receive you,
you will increase
your grace in me in this world,
although I am unworthy of it.
Act of Love and Desire
My dear Jesus,
I love you with all my heart and above all things,
I long to be one with you.
Act of Petition
My dear Jesus,
abide in my heart.
Never leave it.
Remove from it whatever
displeases you
and place in it whatever pleases you.
Act of Thanksgiving (Petition) after Communion
My dear Jesus,
I thank you for the grace
which
you have given me
that you have come to dwell in my heart.
Act of Offering
My dear Jesus,
I give myself to you
as you have given yourself entirely
to me.
End of Acts.
These acts are mine.
My name and last name are Julian Eymard of La Mure.
My God, my all. Julian.Deus fecit mundum de nihilo.
God made the world out of nothing.Julian P. Eymard.
June 30, 1828, letter from Saint Robert to his sister asking her to inscribe him in the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin at La Mure.