The first International Eucharistic Congress owed its inspiration to Bishop Gaston de Ségur, and was held at Lille, France, on June 21, 1881.

The initial inspiration behind the idea came from the laywoman Marie-Marthe-Baptistine Tamisier (1834–1910) who spent a decade lobbying clergy after the French Revolution in an effort to restore religiosity to France.

William Brand, chaplain of the Catholic Boys' Home; and Mr. Frank Delaney, vice-president of the First National Bank of Saint Paul.

Archbishop Murray selected the speakers, topics for sectional meetings, and bishop presiders for the various Pontifical liturgies.

[7] At the congress, there were twenty-six "sectional" or break-out meetings for liturgists, employers and employees talking on Catholic social teaching, and more.

"[11] On Sunday June 22, the day prior to the start of the congress, Archbishop Murray encouraged a general communion of all the faithful in a time where frequent reception of communion was not common, seeking the "welding together of many single souls to make the living unity that would be the Congress".

[6]: 25 The congress began with the arrival of the papal legate, Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, to Saint Paul Union Depot at 4pm.

[14] The day began with a 10am Pontifical Mass celebrated by the papal legate at the Eucharistic Center at the state fairgrounds.

[12] In the afternoon, sectional meetings were held for various groups - clergy, teachers, parents, journalists, catechists, rural workers, servicemen, and choristers.

[12] In the evening there were holy hours celebrated for clergy, sisters, and women, as well as youth meetings held at the Saint Paul Auditorium and Incarnation parish in Minneapolis.

[12] Harold Stassen, the governor of Minnesota, declared June 26 to be a state holiday and encouraged all governmental offices and businesses to close for the afternoon to accommodate the procession to take place at 1:30pm.

[6]: 38-39  At noon, immediately following the Mass, Pope Pius XII delivered a radio address from Vatican City over the loudspeaker system.

He called on those listening to offer prayers of sacrifice and reparation to pray against encroachments against free practice of religious life.

[22][6]: 40-41 The event started at 1:30pm with a transcript of the Pope's earlier address being read over various loudspeakers hung on trees along the route.

Among the many groups in procession were a police and military escort, various men's and women's societies from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and other dioceses, Catholic youth organizations, and vested clergy.

[6]: 43-44 [3] After all but one parish group had passed, the main body of the procession reformed and the monstrance was taken from the altar by Archbishop Cicognani.

Bishop Joseph Schrembs, promoter of national Eucharistic congresses, died shortly after the close of the war.