I am John Eudes. I was born in the small town of Ri, in Normandy, France in 1601. It was a time of social, political and religious upheaval. In those very troubling times for the country and the Church, I concentrated my attention on the issues that I considered the most pressing for the salvation of God’s people.

Just a couple years after I was ordained in December 1625, I asked for and received permission from my Oratorian superiors to go and minister to the victims of the plague. I was concerned that no one was meeting the spiritual needs of these people. Some years later, once again I was concerned for the spiritual needs of women who had fallen into sin. It was for this reason that I founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in 1641 – to assist these women who were seeking the merciful love of God. I wanted to show how important it is to be sensitive to the social needs of the time.  Today, the work is continued in the Philippines by the Religious of the Good Shepherd.

Throughout my life, one of my principal ministries was preaching parish missions. I traveled throughout Normandy and other parts of France to bring people the Good News. There was a great need for spiritual renewal in France at this time. I formed a team of preachers and together we gave over 100 parish missions, some lasting a few weeks, others several months. Much of my life was dedicated to a ministry of evangelization.

But I had still another concern for the Church that was shared by others at that time: the formation of priests. Like St. Vincent de Paul, Jean-Jacques Olier and others of that epoch, I was greatly disturbed by the lack of formation provided for those who were becoming priests. In 1643 I left the Oratory to found the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (CJM), one of its goals being to provide solid formation for priests. In this way I also became known as someone who was committed to forming good workers for the Gospel.

Many people know of my great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially to the Heart of Mary which is united to the Heart of Jesus. I wrote many things about this devotion and I composed a Mass in honor of the Heart of Mary which was celebrated for the first time on February 8, 1648. Some years later, I also composed a Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which was celebrated on October 20, 1672. Both of these Masses marked the first public celebration of a liturgical feast in honor of the Heart of Jesus and Mary.

Unworthy as I am, I was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 31, 1925 and given the distinction of being called “Father, Apostle and Doctor of the Liturgical Devotion of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.” My feast is celebrated on August 19.

I am pleased to see that even today the members of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (known also as Eudist Fathers) continue the spirit and mission I gave them by exercising a ministry of evangelization and forming good workers for the gospel.