Foundation of the Apostleship of Prayer
The Apostleship of Prayer is founded by Fr. François-Xavier Gautrelet, SJ, with the Jesuit scholastics, in Vals-près-le-Puy, France.
First Statutes
Pius IX approves the first statutes of the diocesan association with the letter “Apostolicas Ad augendum”.
Publication of “The Messenger of the Heart of Jesus“
Fr. Henri Ramière launches the publication “The Messenger of the Heart of Jesus” in Toulouse – France. This publication helps to establish the Apostleship of Prayer in the dynamics of the Heart of Jesus, while distancing it from ideological and political approaches to the devotion to the Sacred Heart. The members of the Apostleship of Prayer pray for the intentions of the Heart of Jesus.
Approvation of the first statutes
The Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Card. Innocenzo Ferrieri, approves the first statutes on July 27, 1866. They detail that the Apostleship of Prayer is an organization at the service of the Pope.
Consacration of the Society to the Sacred Heart
On december 1871, Fr. Beckx, Superior General of Jesuits, consacred the Society of Jesus to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, starting from 1872.
Prayer Intentions
In the statutes of May 28, 1879, Leo XIII broadens the mission of ship of Prayer to include a monthly intention for the members of the AoP during the morning offering.o.
New statutes
The Sacred Congregation changes the statutes, making the Father General of the Society of Jesus the Director General of the Apostleship of Prayer, a role to which he should appoint a delegate. The latter will reside in Toulouse. It is not until 1926 that this position moves to Rome. These statutes remain in force until 1951.
The Eucharistic Crusade
In connection with the Apostleship of Prayer, the Eucharistic Crusade (today the Eucharistic Youth Movement – EYM) comes into being in November 1915, following Pope Pius X’s request to pray for peace at the Eucharistic Congress in Lourdes, in 1914. Pope Pius X believed in the power of the prayer of children and young people, and at the Eucharistic Congress of Lourdes in 1914, he asked them to receive communion at Mass every day and to pray for peace.
Second prayer intention
Pius XI proposes a second prayer intention, a missionary intention, and alternates between general intentions and missionary intentions..
Statutes update
The Statutes are updated, approved in november 1951 by Pio XII
