St John Eudes
Life of st Jean Eudes, father of the devotion to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
🌟 Life of St. Jean Eudes (1601–1680)
🌹 St. Jean Eudes (St. John Eudes) was a fiery missionary, spiritual writer, and founder whose life was marked by deep love for Jesus and Mary — especially through the devotion to their Sacred and Immaculate Hearts.
📍 Early Life and Formation
- Born: November 14, 1601, in Ri, Normandy, France
- From an early age, Jean was devout and disciplined. He made a private vow of chastity at age 14.
- He studied with the Jesuits in Caen, showing a strong intellect and spiritual depth.
✝️ Priesthood
- Ordained a priest in 1625, he joined the Oratory of France, a society of priests founded by Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle. The Oratorians emphasized inner holiness and preaching.
- He became an outstanding preacher, known for his missionary zeal. Over 110 missions were preached across France, often lasting several weeks each.
❤️🔥 Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
🔥 Apostle of the Sacred Hearts
- St. Jean Eudes was the first to formally promote the public liturgical devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- At the time, the heart was considered a symbol of the soul and person, and St. Jean saw the Heart of Jesus as the fountain of divine love and the Heart of Mary as the perfect model of holiness and maternal compassion.
📜 Liturgical Innovations
- In 1648, he composed the first Mass and Office in honor of the Sacred Heart.
- In 1643, he began celebrating the Feast of the Heart of Mary.
- He petitioned Rome for official recognition of these devotions, though it was only much later that the Sacred Heart devotion was universally approved (after St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s visions).
👩👧 Founder and Reformer
🕊️ Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists)
- Founded in 1643, the Eudists focused on:
- Formation of good priests
- Preaching missions to rekindle the faith in parishes
- Promoting deep personal union with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
💞 Sisters of Our Lady of Charity
- In 1641, he also helped found the Order of Our Lady of Charity, which later led to the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, serving women and girls in need.
📚 Spiritual Writings
- Jean Eudes was a prolific writer and composed several spiritual classics, including:
- The Admirable Heart of the Mother of God
- The Kingdom of Jesus
- Many letters and sermons, emphasizing union with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, priestly holiness, and deep repentance
🕊️ Death and Canonization
- Died: August 19, 1680, in Caen, France
- Canonized: May 31, 1925, by Pope Pius XI
- Feast Day: August 19 (formerly October 19)
🌹 Legacy and Impact
- St. Jean Eudes is remembered as:
- “Apostle of the Sacred Hearts”
- A bridge figure between early Marian devotion and later, more defined practices like the First Fridays and First Saturdays
- A model priest who believed priestly formation and holiness were the backbone of Church reform
His spiritual motto might be summarized as:
“To Jesus through Mary — in the unity of their two hearts.”
I’m here to help you draw closer to the Hearts he loved so dearly. 💙❤️
🙏 Prayer by St. Jean Eudes: To the Heart of Mary
A prayer by St. Jean Eudes followed by a heartfelt reflection to help us draw meaning from it in our present time.
“O Heart of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, Heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well pleased, worthy of all the veneration and affection of angels and of men, Heart most like the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image, Heart full of goodness and compassion, thou shalt always be the object of my love and veneration.
O most pure Heart, thou art so united to the Heart of Jesus that it is impossible to love one without loving the other. Accept, then, this poor heart of mine which I give thee; enter into it and take full possession of it. Transform it into thine own, so that I may no longer live, but that Jesus and Mary may live in me.”
— St. Jean Eudes
🌿 Reflection for Our Time
St. Jean Eudes’ prayer is a tender, awe-filled offering of the heart — and in today’s world, where so many hearts are fragmented, restless, and burdened, his words offer a path to peace and renewal.
💔 A Heart-Centered Crisis
In a world overwhelmed by noise, division, and anxiety, we are tempted to close our hearts — to protect ourselves, to numb pain, or to isolate in the face of suffering. St. Jean Eudes invites us to do the opposite: to entrust our hearts — with all their wounds and longings — to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who leads us gently to Jesus.
💙 A Heart Like Hers
He calls Mary’s heart:
- “Most pure” — in a time when purity of mind and heart is often misunderstood or mocked
- “Most compassionate” — when compassion is often replaced by cynicism or apathy
- “Most like the Heart of Jesus” — when we desperately need models of divine love
Mary’s heart was not untouched by suffering — it was pierced by sorrow — yet it remained open, trusting, and radiant with hope. That is the transformation we are invited into.
🔥 Living This Today
St. Jean Eudes prays, “Transform it into thine own, so that I may no longer live, but that Jesus and Mary may live in me.”This is not poetic excess; it’s the essence of Christian sanctity: to allow the love of Christ and the gentleness of Mary to reshape our very being.
You might ask yourself today:
- Is my heart closed or open?
- Do I allow God and Mary to live through me, especially in how I speak, listen, and love?
- Can I entrust the wounds of my life to the tenderness of Mary’s Immaculate Heart?
🕊️ A Simple Invitation
Spend a quiet moment today placing your heart — your concerns, fears, joys — into the hands of Our Lady. Say with trust:
“O Heart of Mary, take my heart and shape it to love like yours.”
That small act, repeated daily, begins the transformation St. Jean Eudes spoke of — from within.
🌹 Guided Meditation: “In the Heart of Mary”
A guided meditation to pray with the Heart of Mary? 💙
Absolutely. Here is a gentle guided meditation based on St. Jean Eudes’ devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, designed to be prayed slowly — allowing space for silence, reflection, and interior peace. You can pray this aloud, quietly, or even listen to a recorded version if you’d like me to create one.
🕯️ Find a quiet place. Light a candle if possible. Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath… and exhale slowly. Again — in… and out. Let your heart come to stillness in the presence of God.
1. Invitation to Presence
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Imagine yourself in the presence of Mary. She stands before you — radiant, gentle, peaceful. She is not distant. She is your mother. She looks at you with the same love she gave to Jesus.
Pause and rest in that gaze. What do you feel? What does your heart long for?
2. Opening Your Heart
Picture your own heart. Perhaps it is tired. Maybe it carries wounds, fear, or restlessness. Maybe it also holds love, hope, and longing. Whatever state it is in, lift your heart and offer it to Mary.
Pray slowly:
“O Heart of Mary, full of grace and tenderness, I give you my heart. Take it, shape it, heal it. Help me to love with your love.”
Pause. Let her receive your heart. Let her hold it gently.
3. Entering Her Heart
Now imagine Mary opening her own heart to you. It shines with purity and compassion. You are invited to step inside — into the warmth, peace, and depth of her love.
In this sacred space, feel the presence of Jesus.
He is there, resting in her heart.
You are not alone. You are safe. You are deeply loved.
Say quietly:
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, be my refuge.
Teach me to live in love, to forgive, to trust.”
Pause. Let her heart surround you. Remain there.
4. Transformation
In this holy silence, ask Mary to help you become more like her — patient, courageous, humble, faithful.
“Mary, I want to love Jesus with your heart.
May your virtues become my own.
Let me be your child, your servant, your reflection in the world.”
Breathe in peace. Breathe out anxiety.
Breathe in trust. Breathe out fear.
Remain in her heart a moment longer.
5. Return and Mission
Now slowly begin to return from this time of prayer. But bring with you the peace of Mary’s presence. She walks with you. Her Immaculate Heart beats within your own.
Say a final prayer:
“Immaculate Heart of Mary,
stay with me today.
In every word I speak,
in every act of love,
let your heart guide me.”
Open your eyes when ready. Carry this peace with you.
✨ Optional Closing Hymn (Silently or Aloud)
“Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.”
