Today is August 19, the Memorial of Saint John Eudes.
We read at today’s Mass, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible'” (Mt 19:26).
Today the Church honors St. John Eudes, a 17th-century priest from Normandy whose life was entirely devoted to preaching and formation. At a time when the reforms of the Council of Trent were still taking root, St. John saw the urgent need for well-formed priests — men of learning, holiness and zeal. He founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, known as the Eudists, dedicated to providing high-quality seminary training and sending priests out to preach parish missions.
His mission was nothing less than revival. France, still reeling from the Reformation’s upheaval, needed the Gospel preached with clarity and conviction. St. John’s work shows us that renewal is possible even in the most tumultuous times — because, as Jesus says, “for God all things are possible.”
‘All in’ for the Gospel
St. John Eudes’ zeal flowed from his deep love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In “The Life and the Kingdom of Jesus in Christian Souls,” he writes, “If we have any zeal at all for the accomplishment of his divine plans, we ought to offer ourselves to him as candidates for his renewed martyrdom that he may find in us a means to quench that burning thirst in the fulfillment once more of his yearning to shed his blood and die for love of his Father.”
We may not be called to literal martyrdom, but his example invites us to examine our own zeal. Are we content with minimal effort, or are we willing to be “all in” for the Gospel? Do we believe renewal is possible — in our parishes, our families, our own hearts — or do we give in to discouragement?
With God, nothing is impossible. Today, let us consecrate our hearts to the Lord’s love, asking for the courage and generosity that marked the life of today’s intrepid and holy priest.
Let us pray,
O God, who wonderfully chose the Priest Saint John Eudes to proclaim the unfathomable riches of Christ, grant us, by his example and teachings, that, growing in knowledge of you, we may live faithfully by the light of the Gospel. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
