SACERDOTI DEL S.mo SACRAMENTO. – A religious congregation commonly called the Congregation of the Sacramentine Fathers (S.S.S.), founded in Paris on 13 May 1856 by Bl. Eymard (v.), approved by the Holy See on 8 May 1863 and then definitively on 8 May 1895.
It is composed of priests and lay brothers; the novitiate lasts two years, and after three years of annually renewed temporary vows, perpetual profession is made. The purpose of the Congregation is the perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharistic apostolate. It is not merely contemplative but also active, although its external apostolate is subordinate to the personal obligation assumed by each religious to take part in the perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, solemnly exposed in their churches by day and by night. The Congregation, which during the founder’s lifetime numbered five houses, currently (1952) has 1331 members distributed among 71 houses and 13 provinces or vice-provinces spread throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa.
The principal works of the Congregation are: for the clergy, the priest adorers (with more than 100,000 members) and the League for Frequent and Daily Communion; for the faithful, the association of the Most Blessed Sacrament in its threefold organization: simple association and guard of honour, Eucharistic fraternity, and Eucharistic weeks.
It publishes Eucharistic periodicals intended for the clergy and the faithful; it preaches spiritual retreats, especially to priests and in seminaries; and it organizes nocturnal and daytime adoration and Eucharistic congresses.