Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-18
BISHOP CONATY
URGES DEVOTION
PURPOSES OF EUCHARlSTlC
LEAGUE TOLD
sAcRAMENTAL PRESENCE ABLY
ELUclDATED'
impressive Sermon Explains Object of
Organization Which VIII Open
First Diocesan Conference
Here May 19

Bishop Conaty preached at st. Vibi-
ana's cathedral yesterday morning on
1.-THE History and Purposes of the
Eucharistic League" which will open
It's first diocesan conference with pom
tifical mass Tuesday, May 10, at st.
Vibiana's cathedral. The bishop said
Devotion to the eucharistebegan at
the last supper when the bread and
wine were ransubstantiated by Christ
into His body and blood and the sac
rament of the holy eucharist was in
stituted. Christianity has always con-
sidered this mystery of Christ's love
as the central truth In the doctrine
and worship of Christ and has found
In 1t one of the great reasons for the
priesthood of Christ, which has been
perpetuated through the apostles and
their successors.
"Pope Leo XIII, by his famous en-
cyclical on the eucharist in 1902, sound
ed a trumpet note calling the people to
greater devotion to our eucharistic
Savior, and Plus x, by his appeal for
daily communion, has called the peo-
pie to greater devotion and closer union
with Christ.
1.-THE priests league was organized
by Pere Eymard, a worthy priest of
France who died In 1869. Approved by
the holy see, 1t numbers over $4,000
priests throughout the world, who bind
themselves to special devotion to the
blessed sacrament. The first confer
ence was held in Lille, in France, In
1881, and in the United States at
Notre Dame university in 1884. A
worlds congress was held In Jerusa-
lem in 1893 and another will be held
this year in Westminster cathedral,
London.
Also Feast Day
by coincidence this Sunday is the
feast day of ST. Paschal Baylor, whom
Pope Leo XIII selected as the uni
versai patron of all eucharistic socie-
ties. He was a Franciscan monk, born
in Arragon, Spain, In 1910, entering
the Franciscans in France and dying
In 1862 after a life of great sactity,
characterized by a wonderful devotion
to the blessed eucharist"
The bishop then proceeded to discuss
the grounds upon which the church
bases Its belief In the real presence of
Jesus Christ in the holy sacrament of
the eucharist He cited the types and
figures of the old law, the Mamma and
Paschal Lamb, the promises made by
Christ in the wilderness, told by st.
John in the sixth chapter of his gospel,
the Interpretation put upon his words
by the Jews and the confirmation of
their Interpretation by Christ.
The bishop then pictured the scene
of the last supper and the fulfllment
of the promise, not in figure but in
the reality of Christ's presence I'm the
sacrament of the eucharist, which is
the great expression of Christ's love
for man. =
History of Priesthood
1.-THE priesthood instituted by Christ
he said. was commissioned to do
what they had seen Him do, and from
that moment Christ became again a
with men on the Christian altar, unit
ing with man in holy communion,
guiding, strengthening and loving
them.
1.-The bishop appealed for a stronger
and a more active faith in this abiding
presence and said that Jesus was in
their midst and many knew Him not
light of the church. Here the eternal
Son of God made man dwells pris-
oner of love. The eternal Father calls
him my beloved Son, in whom / am
well pleased. Hear We him. Christ
said, This is my body and we be-
lieve that 1t is because Christ said 1t.
He said take We and eat and by holy
communion we receive him. He lives
in our churches by this sacramental
presence SO that the church is indeed
the house of God and the gate Of
heaven. The Real Presence has been
the means of sanctification In all the
ages of faith; 1t Is for us as for those
who have gone before us, and we need
to realize Gods great love for u.s.
The bishop appealed for more devo-
ton, more regular visits to the church,
more frequent communions and asked
all to pray for the success of the con-
ference that priests and people may
be aroused to greater love for Jesus
Christ really present in the holy sacra-
ment Of the altar.