St. John Eudes, Priest, Founder of the Eudists

St. John Eudes (1601-1680) was a French Catholic priest and the founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, also known as the Eudists. Born in Normandy, he dedicated his life to preaching, spiritual direction, and the reform of the clergy. He was a pioneer in the devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and established the first liturgical feast in their honor. Eudes was a tireless advocate for the poor and the sick, and worked to establish seminaries and retreats for priests. He was beatified in 1908 and canonized in 1925. St. John Eudes is the patron saint of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, as well as of the Canadian province of Quebec.