Congregation of the Servants of the Most Blessed Sacrament

An order of nuns, founded by the Venerable Pierre-Julien Eymard (q. v.) in 1858, assisted by Mother Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, with the authorization of Mgr Morlot, Archbishop of Paris. A Decree of Pius IX (21 July, 1871) canonically erected it into a religious congregation, and on 8 May, 1885, Leo XIII approved the constitutions. The aim of the society is to render "before all else solemn and perpetual adoration to Our Lord Jesus Christ, abiding perpetually in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar for the love of men". "The Congregation of the Servants of the Most Blessed Sacrament devote themselves with all their souls and all their strength to propagate this same worship of adoration and love in the world, especially by means of 'The People's Eucharistic League' in the way that was erected by a Rescript of August 2, 1872 (Bishops and Regulars), by Retreats of Adoration, and the work of the worship of Jesus Christ"; that is, by work for poor churches, as well as by catechetical instruction to children and to poor or ignorant adults. Each sister is required to make three adorations in the twenty-four hours, of which two are in the day and one at night. The Divine Office is said in choir. The community is contemplative and cloistered. The mother-house is at Angers, France. The congregation has houses at Lyons (France), founded 29 June, 1874; Paris, founded 1 May, 1876; Binche (Belgium), founded 17 November, 1894. In October, 1903, at the request of Mgr Labrecque, Bishop of Chicoutimi, a house was established at Chicoutimi on the banks of the Saguenay. The first exposition took place on 22 October, 1903, in the chapel of the Sisters of Good Counsel, who for several months extended hospitality to the newly-arrived community. On 25 March, 1906, it took possession of a new convent and on 18 June, 1909, the chapel of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus was consecrated. Canada has now its novitiate. The community numbers thirteen professed of the perpetual vows, and fifteen novices.

TENAILLON, Le Rev. Pere Pierre-Julien Eymard; Documents sur sa vie et ses vertus (Rome, 1899).

A. Letellier.