Holiday:
* November 14, 1601 Rinear Argentan, France
† August 19, 1680 Caen, France
Meaning of the name: God is gracious (Hebrew)
St. John Eudes
St. John Eudes was born on November 14, 1601, in the village of Rinear Argentan (west of Paris). His father, Izák Eudes, originally wanted to become a priest, but as the only descendant of a family that died of the plague, he had to renounce his intention. He married Martha Corbin and made a living as a farmer and village doctor. He prayed the breviary every day and was very pious. Ján was the first of seven children. As a child, his parents offered him to the Virgin Mary as a sign of gratitude for the gift of a child. Ján was very clever; he had a kind heart and a strong will. At the age of fourteen, he made a vow of lifelong chastity. The Jesuits educated him in Caen. In 1618, he joined the Marian Congregation. His classmates called him “pious Eudes”. After consulting with his spiritual leader, he decided to become a priest. However, his parents somehow forgot their old desires and wanted him to get married instead. But he didn’t give up. Finally, they gave way to him, and on February 25, 1623, he joined the Society of Oratorians in Paris, founded in 1611 by the holy priest Peter de Bérulle. Under his guidance, he trained in the life of prayer and virtues. He was ordained a priest on December 20, 1625. The second year, however, he fell ill and had to be treated. In 1627, he was definitively accepted among the oratorians and began preparing to preach. But then he received an urgent message from his father. He begged him to come and attend to the sick of the plague. With the superior’s permission, he cared for all those who needed it for two months. After the end of the epidemic, he returned and prepared to conduct parish missions. But the plague came again to the city he lived in, Caen. He took care of the sick again; he got ill and almost died. But he got over it. In 1632, he held the first six missions. He preached and confessed with such fervor that everyone considered it a feat of mastery. But then he went to study again and, after two years, became responsible for the Oratorian missions in Normandy.
In the years 1635-1641, John preached in various places and his activity was very successful. Many people were converted or confessed years later to his preaching. However, John was troubled that these successes of his did not last long, as the local priests – parish priests – were uneducated and did not continue what he had started with his sermons. And so he came up with the idea of founding a priestly seminary. He wanted to do it within his order, but the superior considered it too progressive and did not allow it. On the advice of several, he decided to leave the Oratorians and found a new congregation. At the end of 1642, he received permission from the king. On March 24 of the following year, he left the Oratorian monastery and traveled to the old chapel of Our Lady, which was about thirteen kilometers from Caen. There, together with their five collaborators, they consecrated themselves to Jesus and Mary and began their activity. In the years 1643-1670, they founded six seminaries. The bishops welcomed this activity and begged him to help them. On the other hand, Ján also met with misunderstanding. Many criticized him for this, envied his achievements and hindered him. But he didn’t give up. He also continued to preach. He went about Normandy, Brittany and other regions and attracted crowds. During his missions, he converted several public sinners, showing his deep compassion and empathy. Therefore, he begged the order of the Visitation in Caen to give him some sisters to help him work with these penitents. Three sisters, including Mother Patinová, were released. Together with Mother Patinová, he founded the Congregation of Notre Dame de Charité (Our Lady of Mercy) according to the Rule of St. Augustina. To the three usual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, they added a vow to dedicate themselves to the conversion of fallen women. John greatly revered the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Thanks to him, respect for them spread not only throughout France, but also beyond the borders. Some of his writings have survived: The Life of Jesus and His Kingdom, The Good Confessor and The Admirable Heart of the Mother of God.
Towards the end of his life, he suffered greatly from slander and illnesses. In 1680, he renounced the office of superior general. Before his death, he gave his last instructions to his fellow brothers. He died on August 19, 1680. He was buried in Caen. Pope Pius X declared him blessed in 1909 and under the Holy Pope Pius XI. in 1925.
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