Saint John Eudes
Feast Day: August 19
Saint John Eudes was a French priest who lived in the 1600s. He is known for his deep love for Jesus and Mary. He started two religious groups and helped many people grow closer to God. He also helped people learn how to live holy lives.
He is most known for teaching others to love the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These devotions were not very common before his time. He helped spread them in a way that many people could understand and follow.
Saint John Eudes was a preacher and a teacher. He cared for people who were poor or sick. He wanted to help people change their lives and turn back to God.
He is also called Jean Eudes in French. He worked during a time when the Church in France needed strong leaders. He helped bring renewal to the Church through prayer, teaching, and service.
A Farm Boy with a Big Calling
John Eudes was born in 1601 in a small town in Normandy, France. His parents were good Catholics. They taught him to pray and follow God from a young age. He helped on the family farm when he was a boy.
As a young man, he showed a strong love for prayer and study. He wanted to become a priest. He joined the Oratorians, a group of priests who focused on preaching and teaching. He was ordained a priest in 1625.
While still young, he cared for people with the plague. He lived in a barrel in the fields to avoid spreading sickness to others. This shows how much he cared about others and was willing to suffer to help them.
He studied hard and learned how to preach well. People came from many places to hear him speak. His words helped many people turn away from sin and choose a better path.
A Preacher Who Walked the Talk
John Eudes spent much of his life traveling and preaching. He gave missions in towns and villages across France. He wanted people to know God’s love and mercy. His simple way of speaking helped many people understand the faith.
He was not afraid to speak the truth. He told people when they were living in sin. But he also gave them hope. He helped them go to confession and start fresh. Many people said their lives changed after hearing him preach.
He also cared deeply about helping other priests grow in holiness. He believed that priests needed good training to guide others. At that time, many priests were poorly prepared. He worked hard to change this.
He began seminaries to teach and train priests. He wanted priests to be men of prayer and service. He knew that good priests could help lead many others to God.
Two Loving Hearts, One Mission
John Eudes is known for promoting the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He believed that these two hearts showed the love of Jesus and Mary for all people. He wanted people to love them in return.
At the time, this kind of devotion was not very common. John Eudes preached about it in his missions. He also wrote prayers and books to help people grow in love for the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
He believed that the heart of Jesus showed His mercy and kindness. He taught that the heart of Mary showed her care and love for us as a mother. He wanted people to see their love and be comforted by it.
Because of his work, many others began to pray in this way too. The Church later accepted this devotion and encouraged it. Today, it is a big part of Catholic life, and Saint John Eudes helped make that possible.
Learn about the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Learn about the First Five Saturdays Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Building Something That Lasts
John Eudes saw many people in need. He saw women who had lived sinful lives and wanted to change. He also saw young men who wanted to serve God but had no one to teach them. He wanted to help both.
In 1641, he helped start the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. These women helped care for women who were in trouble or had no home. They gave them a safe place to live and helped them find peace in God.
In 1643, he started the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, also called the Eudists. These priests focused on preaching and forming other priests. They lived in community and helped people know God.
These two groups are still active today. They help people in many countries. John Eudes’ work did not end when he died. It keeps going through the people he formed and inspired.
A Saint Who Still Speaks Today
John Eudes died in 1680. He had spent his life helping others grow in love for Jesus and Mary. Many people remembered his kind heart and strong preaching. His teachings did not end with his death.
The Church later looked at his life and saw that he had lived with great love for God. Pope Pius X called him “the father of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.” Pope Pius XI said he helped renew the Church in France. He was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925.
His feast day is August 19. He is the patron saint of people who work in seminaries and those who teach others about Jesus and Mary. His legacy continues in the Church today.
Saint John Eudes teaches us that love for Jesus and Mary can change lives. He reminds us that priests and teachers matter. His life shows how one person, with love and faith, can help bring others closer to God.
Daily Mass Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John Eudes, Priest
The readings for this memorial may be taken from the readings below, the Common of Pastors, the Common of Holy Men and Women, or the readings of the day.
- First Reading – Ephesians 3:14-19: The Father gives strength through his Spirit so that Christ may live in our hearts. Rooted in love, we grow in understanding and are filled with the fullness of God.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 131: I keep my soul still and close to the Lord, like a quiet child. I do not chase what is too high, but I trust God always.
- Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30: Jesus thanks the Father for revealing truth to the humble. He invites all who are weary to come to him for rest, promising gentleness and peace to those who follow him.
Homilies, Commentaries, and Reflections
Learning from a Man Who Loved Jesus and Mary
Saint John Eudes lived a long time ago, but his life still has something to teach us. He loved Jesus and Mary with his whole heart. He wanted others to know that love too. He did not just talk about it—he lived it. He preached, taught, and served people who were hurting or lost. His life was full of prayer, hard work, and care for others.
Sometimes we think that only saints can live holy lives. But John Eudes reminds us that holiness is for everyone. He worked with people who had sinned or made mistakes. He helped them start again. He believed that God’s love is always ready to help us. That means we don’t have to be perfect. We just have to turn back to God and try again.
He also shows us how important it is to care for others. He helped people during sickness. He helped women who were cast aside. He trained priests so they could lead others to God. He looked around and saw people in need—and he did something about it. We can do that too. We may not start a religious order, but we can listen, care, and help in small ways.
John Eudes also reminds us to pray with love. He helped people grow closer to the hearts of Jesus and Mary. He showed them how to pray and how to trust. We can follow that example. We can take time each day to talk to Jesus and Mary. We can ask them to guide us and help us love others better.
Reflection Questions
- Who in my life needs love and care right now?
- How can I help someone turn back to God?
- Do I take time to pray to Jesus and Mary with love and trust?
- What gifts has God given me that I can use to serve others?
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Mission
Saint John Eudes didn’t wait for perfect conditions—he simply made himself available to God. He preached, taught, and served wherever he was needed. By forming holy priests and caring for the poor, he helped renew the Church from the inside out.
God still works through people who say yes. You don’t need to be perfect or powerful—just willing. Like John Eudes, you can collaborate with God today by noticing a need, showing up, and doing your part. That’s how big things begin: one small yes at a time.
Resources
The Admirable Heart of Mary
The Admirable Heart of Mary is a book by Saint John Eudes that teaches about the love of Jesus and Mary. It was the first book written about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In this book, Saint John Eudes explains what this devotion means and how people can live it out. He wrote prayers, litanies, and Mass texts to help others grow in love for Jesus and Mary. The book makes these ideas simple and easy to follow. It invites readers to grow closer to Jesus and Mary through trust, love, and daily prayer.
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Questions and Answers about Saint John Eudes
Who was Saint John Eudes?
He was a French priest who lived in the 1600s. He loved Jesus and Mary and helped people grow closer to God.
What is Saint John Eudes known for?
He is known for spreading love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When was Saint John Eudes born?
He was born in 1601 in Normandy, France.
What kind of work did he do?
He was a preacher, teacher, and helper of the poor and sick. He also trained priests.
Did he start any religious groups?
Yes. He started the Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary) and helped begin the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity.
Why did he care about training priests?
He believed priests should live holy lives and be well prepared to guide others.
When did Saint John Eudes die?
He died in 1680.
When is his feast day?
His feast day is August 19.
When was he made a saint?
He was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
What can we learn from him?
We can learn to love Jesus and Mary more, care for others, and help people return to God.
A Saint Who Led with Love and Action
Saint John Eudes gave his life to Jesus and Mary. He cared for people who were hurting and lost. He helped them turn back to God. He preached with love and lived what he taught.
He also worked to make the Church stronger. He trained good priests and started groups to serve others. His work still helps people today. His love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary is now known all over the world.
John Eudes did not live an easy life, but he stayed faithful. He showed that loving God means loving people too. He saw needs around him and did what he could to help.
We can follow his example in our own lives. We can pray, help others, and share God’s love in simple ways. Like Saint John Eudes, we can serve with joy and trust in God.
Your Turn
Saint John Eudes shows us how to love and serve in real ways. His life was full of action, prayer, and care for others. He followed Jesus and Mary with his whole life.
If you want to learn more about him, read more or pray to him. Think about how his life connects to yours. Share your thoughts or your own story in the comment section. We’d love to hear from you.
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