Born in Normandy in 1601, John was one of seven children and his parents were farmers. 

In his mid-teens, he took a vow of chastity. 

In his early twenties, he made the decision to join the Oratorians and by the time he was in his mid-twenties, he was a priest. 

In 1627 and again in 1631, France was hit by plagues. 

Fearless in his devotion to the sick, John was also determined not to spread the plague himself and so each night he slept in a cask in the middle of an empty field. 

In his early 30s, John became a parish Missionary. Extremely gifted as a preacher and confessor, he gave over 100 parish missions. But he knew the key to evangelization was more good priests, so he dedicated himself to recruiting more seminarians. 

He formed The Congregation of Jesus and Mary, The Eudists, with the goal of developing a strong, vibrant, and large clergy through diocesan seminaries. 

It was an idea not without opposition. He had trouble getting permission from Rome before Pope Clement X finally gave approval for six confraternities and seminaries. 

He also formed the Congregation of Our Lady of Refuge to provide shelter for prostitutes trying to escape that way of life. 

John also had a great devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

He wrote extensively about Jesus as the source of holiness and Mary as the model for Christian life. 

He died on this day in 1680 and in 1903 Pope Leo XIII made St. John Eudes the author of Liturgical Worship of The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Holy Heart of Mary. 

St. John Eudes, please pray for us.