Saint Peter Julian Eymard and Rodin

Saint Peter Julian Eymard

August 2nd is the feast of Saint Peter Julian Eymard. He is the founder of the religious order of men, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, that have staffed the parish of Saint Jean Baptiste, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan since 1900   In addition, he founded an order of contemplative sisters, the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, and an association of lay faithful, the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament.(http://www.sjbny.org).

Fr. Eymard was born in 1811 in the south-eastern French province of Isere, in the town of La Mure d’Isere. In spite of multiple serious obstacles, Saint Peter Julian followed a steadily advancing path, first to the diocesan priesthood, then to the Marist Fathers and finally to found, in 1856 at Paris, a congregation of men dedicated, as their name suggests, to the Eucharist. His followers  endeavor through carefully celebrated liturgy, prayer, preaching, teaching, writing and other apostolic work to uncover multiple layers of the mystery of Christ present in the Eucharist and among His church.

One of Fr. Eymard’s early recruits was the young Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).  Rodin came to him in 1862 during a period of guilty mourning following the death of his much-loved sister, Marie. Although he tried earnestly, Fr. Eymard perceived that the young man was not a particularly good candidate for the congregation and kindly suggested that Rodin return to that for which he was obviously gifted. Rodin obeyed and the rest, as they say, is history. Rodin became the great maverick sculptor of late 19th century France, known for works like “The Thinker”, “The Kiss”, “The Gates of Hell", and “The Burghers of Calais”.

Auguste Rodin, The Burghers of Calais
French, c. 1884-1895 (cast 1985)

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art

When Rodin returned to work as a sculptor, he did not forget his former Father Superior. Saint Jean’s owns one of the bronze copies of his portrait bust of Fr. Eymard.

Rodin at work on the bust of Fr. Eymard,
Paris, 1863

Auguste Rodin, Cast of Bust of Saint Peter Julian Eymard
French, 1863
New York, Eglise Saint. Jean Baptiste

     

In this bust, Rodin captures more than Saint Peter Julian’s likeness. He seems to present the inner energy and fire which helped Fr. Eymard successfully overcome the many obstacles he faced and the zeal with which he strove to serve Jesus in the Eucharist. As he wrote to Madame Antoinette de Grandville, in July 1859: "Be the apostle of the divine Eucharist, like a flame which enlightens and warms, like the Angel of his heart who will go to proclaim him to those who don’t know him and will encourage those who love him and are suffering." (courtesy Blessed Sacrament Fathers website, http://www.blessedsacrament.com/).

Auguste Rodin, Cast of Bust

Saint Peter Julian Eymard (side view)

French, 1863

New York, Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste

Auguste Rodin, Cast of Bust

Saint Peter Julian Eymard (side view)

French, 1863

New York, Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste

Fr. Eymard, who died in 1868, was canonized in 1962 and is known as “The Apostle of the Eucharist”.

© M. Duffy, 2011