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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
November 14, 1601–August 19, 1680
Patron Saint of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists) and missionaries and devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
St. John Eudes was one of the great spiritual leaders of 17th-century France. A gifted preacher, devoted priest, and founder of religious communities, he dedicated his life to strengthening the Church through missionary work and the formation of holy priests.
Born in Ri, Normandy, in 1601, John grew up in a deeply Catholic family. He entered the Congregation of the Oratory, founded by Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle, and was ordained a priest in 1625. Soon afterward, he became known for his powerful preaching and zeal for the salvation of souls. For many years, he traveled throughout France conducting parish missions, helping people return to the Sacraments and deepen their faith.
During outbreaks of plague, John courageously ministered to the sick and dying. To avoid infecting others, he often lived apart from his community while continuing his pastoral work among those who were suffering. These experiences strengthened his conviction that priests needed strong spiritual formation to serve the faithful effectively.
Recognizing this need, he founded seminaries dedicated to preparing priests for holy and fruitful ministry. In 1643, he established the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, known as the Eudists, whose mission focused on priestly formation and evangelization. He also helped found the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, a community devoted to assisting women seeking refuge and spiritual renewal.
John Eudes is especially remembered for promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Through his preaching, liturgical celebrations, and vast spiritual writings, he encouraged the faithful to contemplate the love of Christ and the virtues of His Blessed Mother. His efforts helped prepare the way for the widespread growth of these devotions in the centuries that followed.
After a lifetime of faithful service, St. John Eudes died on August 19, 1680. Canonized in 1925, he remains a model of priestly holiness, missionary zeal, and devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Long before these devotions became widespread throughout the Church, John Eudes preached and wrote extensively about the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as symbols of their love, mercy, and holiness. He composed liturgical offices and Mass texts in their honor and encouraged public celebration of these feasts. His writings presented the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as united in God’s plan of salvation. Because of his efforts, he is often regarded as one of the principal architects of these devotions, which later flourished throughout the Catholic world. One of his most quoted statements is, “You must never separate what God has so perfectly united. So closely are Jesus and Mary bound up with each other that whoever beholds Jesus sees Mary; whoever loves Jesus, loves Mary; whoever has devotion to Jesus, has devotion to Mary.”
John Eudes believed that the spiritual renewal of society depended largely on the holiness and education of priests. He founded six seminaries for training priests. At a time when seminary formation was still developing after the Council of Trent, he founded seminaries that emphasized prayer, sound theology, pastoral care, and personal holiness. He taught that a priest’s foundation must be rooted in the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, developing priests who combined academic rigor with pastoral zeal and heartfelt compassion. His methods influenced priestly training in France and beyond. The Eudist congregation he founded continues this mission today through seminaries, educational institutions, and pastoral ministries worldwide.
St. John Eudes was a prolific spiritual writer and left behind 13 volumes of spiritual writings and correspondence. His best-known works include The Life and Kingdom of Jesus in Christian Souls and The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God. These writings explore the virtues, love, and spiritual mission of Jesus and Mary and invite Christians to imitate them more closely. He also authored numerous letters, mission sermons, and devotional texts. His works helped shape French spirituality in the 17th century and continue to be studied by those interested in the theology of the Sacred Hearts. As of 2017, his cause has been under consideration for the title of Doctor of the Church.
Filled with beautiful images and quotes, this free eBook will encourage you to run to Our Lady and call upon her to guide you in the path of holiness. Use the form to let us know where we can send you the eBook The Pondering Heart of Mary.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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