John Eudes is the founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. He was born in 1601 in Ri, Normandy. He was educated by the Jesuits and joined the newly established French Oratorians in Paris and was ordained to the priesthood in 1625. He gained a reputation as one of the great preachers of France.
John published The Life and Kingdom of Jesus in Christian Souls which contained the essence of his devotional thought.
This was a time of weak religious practice among Catholics and of poorly educated and weakly motivated diocesan clergy. In 1641 he began giving conferences for priests directed toward improving the performance of their pastoral duties. He even tried to establish a seminary for the more proper training of future clergy. To this end he founded his Congregation of Jesus and Mary. Five seminaries were eventually established in French cities.
The first reading today from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians reminds us all that while knowledge of Christ Jesus is of the absolute essence in being a good and faithful disciple and follower, what is more important is to experience the love which is Christ Jesus – the love that exists because the Holy Spirit comes to make his presence known and felt in our hearts – making it possible for us to have a person to person relationship with Jesus! Through a simple act of faith we access this type of experience and knowledge which is the most amazing experience that anyone can really expect to have!
The gospel passage reminds us that the knowledge and experience of the love of Christ is especially accessible by the simple and the lowly, indeed the child like – and it shall not be taken from them. As loving and trusting children we are to place all our hope in God – give all our troubles to Jesus – and find the rest, the solace, the strength and the peace we need to live from day to day – until the Last Day!
In you, Lord, I have found my peace!
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