Figure 1.--Brazil was pne of the contries to which the Children's Eucharistic Crusade (Cruzada Eucarística Infantil) spread. This portrait was taken in Valsugana, a village close to Nova Trento, Santa Catarina, Brazil (1960s). The children are wearing basic uniforms. Many of the chilfren are barefoot, ciommon in Brazil at the time.

The Children's Eucharistic Crusade (CEC) is a Catholic association promoting the devotion to the Eucharist among children. It was established in 1914 and it spread to many countries, mostly Catholic countries in Europe and Latin Anmerica. The Eucharistic Crusade was a Church organisation for youth children (7-15 years old). It was created to encourage youth to pray for their personal sanctification and for the work of the Catholic Church. The term Crusade evokes a spirit of combat, in this case a commitment against personal vice. They were pitted asgainst the reign of Satan and to liberate them from Hell so they could be put to the service of Jesus Christ. The fuel for this effort was the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The impetus for the Crusades spirit is found in the Pope Pius X's decree Quam Singulari (1910). He autorized children to participate in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist after they had reached the age of reason. The Crusade was officially founded by a French priest, Fr. Bessières, with the permission of Pope Benedict XV. Fr. Bessières encouraged children from a French girls school to support the soldiers at the front by promising prayers and Holy Communions for victory. And they recorded their schievementsd by noting their efforts made every day. Today CEC it is most populr with the traditionalist congregations founded by Bishop Marcel Lefebvre a French Catholic prelate who has greatly influenced modern traditional Catholicism. Lefebvre deploring the abandonment of the CEC since the Second Vatican Council. He was convinced that this movement had an important role to play for the good of the Church. He attempted to reestablish the CEC, seeing it as aesponse to the corrupt morals of moddern secular society. He was excommunicated for consecrating four bishops even though it was prohibited by Pope John Paul II.