19th August, St John Eudes, Confessor

St. John Eudes, Confessor

Born at Rye in France on the 14th November 1601, John Eudes had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin from his very childhood. At the age of 14, he consecrated himself to her by a vow of perpetual chastity. On Christmas Day 1625, he was ordained priest; in 1643 he founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary usually known as Eudists, and in 1644 the Congregation of the Sisters of our Lady of Charity,known as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

St. John Eudes founded several seminaries and preached many missions in France, but his grandest title is that given him by St Pius X: "Father, Doctor and Apostle of the liturgical worship of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary." He died on the 19th of August 1680 at Caen.

He was beatified on the 25th of April 1909 by Pius X and on the 31st of May 1925 canonized by Pius XI.

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium; lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement: the law of his God is in his heart. * Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity.
(Psalm 36:30-31,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui beatum Joannem Confessorem tuum, ad cultum sacrorum Cordium Jesu et Mariae rite promovendum, mirabiliter inflammasti, et per eum novas in Ecclesia tua familias congregare voluisti: praesta, quaesumus: ut cujus pia merita veneramur, virtutum quoque instruamur exemplis.
O God, who didst wonderfully inflame blessed John Thy confessor to promote the public worship of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and through him didst will to found new religious families in the Church; grant, we beseech thee, that we who venerate his merits may also be taught by the example of his virtues.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05596a.htm