Eudes, John (1601–80), founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists). Born of a farming family at Ri (Normandy), he was educated by the Jesuits at Caen. In 1623 he joined the French Oratorians, inspired by Philip Neri, and stayed with them for twenty years, being zealous in preaching, especially missions, and the care of the sick during epidemics. By some good judges he was reckoned as the preacher in the France of his day who most touched the hearts of his hearers.
In 1643 he founded his new congregation for the education of priests in seminaries; foundations were made at Coutances, Lisieux, and Rouen. Eudes also founded refuges for fallen women. After his death his work prospered and the houses became much more numerous.
In the field of devotion he gave impetus to the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart by providing a firm doctrinal basis for it. This completed the revelations made to Margaret Mary Alacoque. He died at Caen, and was canonized in 1925. Feast: 19 August.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- Lives by H. Joly (1907, Eng. tr. 1932), D. Sargent (1949) and P. Herambourg (1960). Works published in Paris (
12 vols. , 1905–9); selected letters (ed. C. Berthelot du Chesnay, 1958). See also E. Georges, La Congrégation de Jésus et Marie, dite des Eudistes (1933)
