St. John Eudes - August 19th
John was the oldest son of a farmer in Normandy. He was a good boy, who tried to copy the examples given by Our Lord. When he was only nine, a companion slapped his face, and john did what Jesus told us to do: he turned his face for a slap on his other cheek, also.
John’s parents wanted him to marry but he finally persuaded them to let him become a priest. He gave good example to everyone in the Congregation of the Oratory which he joined, just as he had been of good example at home and in school. When a plague brought great suffering to Normandy Father Eudes volunteered to help the sick, caring for their souls and bodies. Later, he became a popular preacher of missions in parishes. In his life he preached one hundred and ten of them.
St. John is responsible for the establishment of important Congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity and the Good Shepherd nuns who try to convert sinful girls and help them lead good lives. He also founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary for priests, dedicated to training young men to become good parish priests.
St. John was very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Holy Heart of Mary, and he wrote a book on them. He fell sick after he preached a mission for nine weeks outdoors in cold winter weather, and a few years later, invoking the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, he died a holy death.
Let us imitate this Saint in his great devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The devotion of the Nine First Fridays and of the five First Saturdays assures us of our eternal salvation.
