Servants of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Encyclopedia
Servants of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic order of nuns, founded by the Venerable Pierre-Julien Eymard in 1858, assisted by Mother Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament
, with the authorization of Mgr Morlot, Archbishop of Paris
.
A Decree of Pope Pius IX
(21 July, 1871) canonically erected it into a religious congregation, and on 8 May, 1885, Pope 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 initial mother-house was at Angers, France
. The congregation's houses at Lyon
(France) was 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.
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
, with the authorization of Mgr Morlot, Archbishop of Paris
Archbishop of Paris
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris is one of twenty-three archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The original diocese is traditionally thought to have been created in the 3rd century by St. Denis and corresponded with the Civitas Parisiorum; it was elevated to an archdiocese on...
.
A Decree of Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
(21 July, 1871) canonically erected it into a religious congregation, and on 8 May, 1885, Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
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
Adoration
Adoration is love given with deep affection. The term comes from the Latin adōrātiō, meaning "to give homage or worship to someone or something."-Ancient Middle East:...
, 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
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
is said in choir. The community is contemplative and cloistered. The initial mother-house was at Angers, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The congregation's houses at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
(France) was founded 29 June, 1874; Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
- founded 1 May, 1876; Binche (Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) - 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.