Jean Eudes

Saint Jean Eudes was born on November 14, 1601, on a farm near the village of Ri in Normandy, France. Formed by Jesuit studies at Caen and drawn to a deeply Christ-centered spirituality, he entered the Oratory and was ordained a priest on December 20, 1625, celebrating his first Mass at Christmas. In times of plague he courageously cared for the sick and dying, even isolating himself to protect his brothers. A gifted preacher and confessor, Eudes spent decades giving parish missions across France, calling souls to conversion and renewal. Seeing the need for holy, well-formed clergy, he founded seminaries and, in 1643, established the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (the Eudists) to educate priests and evangelize. Moved by mercy for women seeking to leave prostitution, he founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity in 1641 as a refuge of repentance and hope. He is especially venerated for promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, even composing Masses and offices to celebrate these mysteries. He died in Caen on August 19, 1680. His feast day is August 19, and he is patron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baie-Comeau.