Overview
“Following in the footsteps of Father Eymard,
we invite all those whom the Spirit directs to the Eucharist,
both priests and lay people,
to become associated with our family and share in its mission.
We offer them our continuing support
so that they may find in the Eucharist
the inspiration for their whole life and commitments.”
Rule of Life, 43
Blessed Sacrament Associates are lay Catholic women and men―single and married―who share in the charism of Saint Peter Julian Eymard by centering their lives on the presence of Christ in the Eucharist as lived and modeled by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Associates commit themselves to be disciples and apostles of the Eucharist, supporting each other through the sharing of prayer and faith in regular meetings. They participate fully in the liturgy of the Eucharist, in personal prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and engage in a variety of ministries, to manifest the fruit of worship and prayer.
Associates partner with the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in proclaiming the riches of God’s love in the Eucharist.
After a period of formation and discernment, they make a public covenant with a promise to place the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s self-giving in the Eucharist at the center of their life. To grow as covenanted people, the associates gather often to pray together, encourage one another, and grow in their understanding of the Eucharist and its demands.
Historical Background
Saint Peter Julian Eymard believed that it was essential to share the eucharistic charism of the two religious congregations he founded with the laity. In order to achieve this, he formed the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament, which was approved by Pope Pius IX in 1875.
The call to be an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament is a true vocation. Associates enter more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist and share its riches with others through a life of prayer and ministry. Number 2 of the Rule of Life for Associates states:
“Our ideal is to live the mystery of the Eucharist fully
and to make known its meaning
so that Christ’s reign may come
and the glory of God may be revealed to the world.
In response to our baptismal vocation,
we seek to witness to Christ’s presence
at the crossroads of society and, starting from the Eucharist,
we strive to influence our world in the light of this mystery,
source and summit of all evangelizing.”
If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, please contact:
Fr. Manuel Asirvadam, SSS
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
20 Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1
Tel. No. (353)1-8724597
