St Teresa inspires a nation

Today we celebrate the Feast of St John Eudes (1601-1680). ‘After ten years of preaching missions with the Oratorians in France, Father Eudes began to notice that although people initially changed after a mission, they quickly fell back into their sins without ongoing spiritual support and guidance. To remedy this, Father Eudes turned his attention to the formation of the clergy. He realized he couldn’t single-handedly evangelize and offer ongoing spiritual support to everyone, and so, in 1643, he left the Oratory and founded the Society of Jesus and Mary, later known as the Eudists. The aim of this new congregation was to provide for the formation of seminarians and parish missions. Over the next thirty years, Father Eudes founded six major seminaries, which not only formed seminarians but also welcomed priests for further education, formation, and retreats, and offered teachings to the laity.  His most enduring legacies are his promotion of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Heart of Mary. In 1648, with the permission of the local bishop, he instituted a feast in honor of the Holy Heart of Mary, fostering a realization of the love that the Blessed Mother had for her Son and for all people. Father Eudes later composed a Mass and Office in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which he celebrated with the bishop’s permission for the first time in 1670. His goal was to reveal the infinite and personal love of Christ Jesus for His people.’ [with acknowledgements to another website.]  One thing to bear in mind with all this is that St John was one among many wonderful Seventeenth-Century Catholic spiritual leaders and teachers and saints (St Francis of Sales, St Vincent de Paul, St John Baptist de la Salle among others).  The previous century had been scarred and deeply wounded in France by the conflict with the Calvinists and other internecine rivalries but it is generally admitted that when the teaching and example of Teresa of Avila was brought to France, it inspired a massive spiritual revival.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K, Fr Jon

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)