St. Jean Eudes – Founder of the Eudists and Apostle of the Sacred Hearts

ST. JEAN EDUES

St. Jean Eudes was a French priest and missionary who promoted devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and founded seminaries and religious congregations.

St. Jean Eudes was born in Ri, Normandy, France, in 1601, to a devout Catholic farming family. From a young age, he demonstrated an extraordinary sense of piety and a desire to serve God. He received his early education from Jesuits and later joined the Oratorians in 1623, an institute focused on preaching and parish missions. He was ordained a priest in 1625 and quickly became renowned for his passionate and eloquent preaching.

France during this period was suffering from war, plagues, and moral decay, and St. Jean Eudes committed his life to preaching reform and renewal. When an outbreak of the plague hit Normandy, he ministered heroically to the sick, risking his life without hesitation. After years of missionary work, he became deeply convinced of the need to reform the clergy. To this end, he founded seminaries to better train priests—places that emphasized not just theological knowledge but also personal holiness and pastoral care.

In 1643, he founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (the Eudists), dedicated to the education and sanctification of priests. Later, in 1641, he also co-founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity, which provided a refuge for women and girls who had been led into lives of vice and sought to return to Christian virtue.

One of his most enduring contributions to Catholic spirituality was his promotion of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He composed the first public liturgies in their honor and wrote extensively about the unity of the two hearts as symbols of divine love and mercy. Though these devotions were not yet officially approved, they laid essential groundwork for later recognition by the Church, especially through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

St. Jean Eudes was a tireless worker for the Kingdom of God, blending scholarly thought with practical evangelization. He wrote several spiritual works, established houses of formation, and continued missions throughout France until his death in 1680. His influence remains vital in the spiritual life of the Church, especially in the formation of clergy and the promotion of devotion to the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Feast Day

19-8-

Birth Date

14-11-1601

Died Date

19-8-1680

Canonised Date

31-5-1925

Caen, France

St. Jean Eudes, apostle of the Sacred Hearts, guide us in your example of love and service. Inspire us to renew our hearts through devotion, to care for the poor and forgotten, and to form strong, holy leaders for the Church. May your zeal and compassion burn within us as we follow Christ more closely. Amen.
ST. JEAN EDUES

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ST. JEAN EDUES

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