St. John Eudes, Apostle of the Two Hearts

Saint John Eudes, forerunner of devotion both to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, was born in 1601, some time after France had been torn apart by the revolt of the Huguenots. The rebels were calmed but relegated to western France by King Henry IV, after he himself returned to the Catholic faith. It was in that region that this young saint spent his childhood, at Argentan in Normandy, and was educated with the Jesuits of Caen.

The father of this firstborn of a family of solid and profound virtue, had himself at one time desired the sacerdotal life. Martha, his mother, shared her husband's uncompromising faith. John had two brothers, one of whom was a famous historian, Francois Eudes of Mezeray.

John was taught Latin by a neighboring priest and in 1615 he entered the Jesuit College of Caen. He did very well there at his classical studies which he prolonged by several years of theology. At eighteen years of age Saint John had already composed a treatise on voluntary abnegation, which his confessor obliged him to publish. John however was not attracted so much to the Jesuits as to a new society of priests, founded in 1611, the congregation of the Oratory. Overcoming his father's opposition he finally joined the Oratorians in 1623 and was ordained priest in December, 1625. His teachers there were Fathers de Bérulle and de Condren, two unsurpassed spiritual directors.

The governing theme of Saint John's meditation, his preaching and his writings, was the importance of the redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God, through the intermediary of His Immaculate Mother. Controversy was not lacking in those days, when the Mother of God had been relegated to a very secondary if not insignificant role by the reformers, and Saint John did not fear controversy. He chose to study both theology and what we would call debate, as essential preparations for his calling. In those days seminaries were scarce; aspiring future priests themselves sought out the instruction they needed.

At Caen a pestilence broke out and soon decimated the populace, often deprived of spiritual assistance. John Eudes offered to care for them in person, and while the scourge lasted slept outdoors in a field, in an old barrel, to protect his brothers in religion from contagion. In 1639 he was named Superior of the Oratory of Caen by Father de Condren, although the Superior General feared that this office could interfere with his missions, from which they hoped for great renovation in western France. Nonetheless, from 1638 until 1642, Saint John, with his brethren in religion, was engaged in preaching missions in the dioceses of Bayeux and Lisieux, where the bishops encouraged him and soon were praising him highly. The fruits of these missions were rich and long-lived. Father Eudes was a follower of Saint Vincent de Paul in his ardent desire to evangelize the poor folk, so long neglected, and it was to the people that the preaching of the Oratorian missionaries was addressed. Their missions lasted for several weeks. "Otherwise," said Saint John, "we put a bandage on the wound, but do not heal it." Processions, hymns, little religious plays, special conferences for specific groups, organization of leagues against duels and blasphemy, and visits to the sick occupied the missionaries' very full days.

In 1641 Saint John Eudes, responding to a challenge to do something practical for homeless women, initiated a refuge in Caen. At first he resisted forming a religious institute and relied on the support of a group of Visitandines. Eventually a new institute was established known as Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. This congregation was officially approved by Rome in 1666. Saint John endowed this congregation with solid constitutions and it was the only contemporary religious group to survive the French Revolution. It was to Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge in Tours that Rose Virginie (later Saint Mary Euphrasia) Pelletier was attracted. Her origins in this congregation provided a solid basis for the development of the new congregation, Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity have done an immense good in many countries.

In 1643 Saint John Eudes left the Oratory, a Society of priests which he loved sincerely, like other founders who have been in a similar position, because he was called by God to break new ground in establishing a group of priests without religious vows, destined to occupy posts in the new seminaries of France. The Council of Trent had commanded these establishments everywhere, ordaining that priests be formed to head parishes and to establish in each of them a school. Already in 1658 Saint John himself had founded four seminaries in Normandy—at Caen, Coutances, Lisieux and Rouen. Before the Revolution in France, the Eudists had accepted the responsibility for sixteen seminaries or minor seminaries. This required a foundation in depth in theology and all pastoral duties.

John Eudes' life was not without struggles. He was ostracized by his Oratorian brethren when he left them to found the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. At one time the Bishop of Bayeux forbade him to say mass at Caen. One of his worst trials was to fall into disgrace with the king, being unjustly accused of pledging unconditional obedience to the pope, contrary to the king's rights. He was accused of heresy by the Abbé d'Aunay. Throughout these trials he kept profound peace and always for gave his persecutors.

John Eudes continued preaching as long as his health permitted. He spoke in the open air to a huge crowd at age 74. His last years were spent writing and he died on 19th August, 1680. John Eudes was canonized on 31st May, 1925.