POPPE, EDWARD. - Priest, promoter of the Eucharistic Crusade, b. at Temache on the Scheldt on 18 Dec. 1890, d. at Moerzeke (Vlaanderen) on 10 June 1924.
Ordained a priest in 1916, he was first assistant pastor in Ghent, in the parish of S. Coletta, a communist district, where he devoted himself unstintingly as defender and friend of the poor; he organized Eucharistic associations to educate children through the Eucharist and a work of catechists to care for the children of indifferent families and prepare them for First Communion. Transferred for reasons of health to Moerzeke, he was there the soul and pioneer of the Eucharistic Crusade, launched by the Norbertines of Averbode, with which he cooperated through articles and pamphlets. He set forth his Eucharistic pedagogical principles in: La méthode eucharistique, L'ami des petits, Manuel de la catéchiste (Italian trans., Milan 1947); Direction spirituelle des enfants (Italian trans., ibid. 1939). Adviser to all, he particularly loved to concern himself with forming holy priests; the flame kindled at a congress of priests held at Louvain (27 Apr. 1919) gave rise to further meetings, the last of which, in 1923, marked his testament. In 1922 he was spiritual director of the CIBI (=Centre d'Instruction des Brancardiers et Infirmiers-), which brought together all young ecclesiastics in Belgium. His spiritual direction, pedagogical conferences, and short evening sermons were published separately: Entretiens sacerdotaux (Paris 1935). A good collection of addresses, retreats, etc., is contained in the Italian translation by M. A. Mandrini, in the volume Vita sacerdotale, 4th ed., Milan 1949.