By Fr Jean-Michel Amouriaux CJM, Superior General of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (commonly known as the ‘Eudists’).

On May 31, 1925, Pentecost Sunday, Jean Eudes—priest, missionary, and founder—was declared a saint by the universal Church. He was thus recognized as living in the glory of God, counted among those who intercede for the world, and especially for those who carry out his charism and continue the missions he initiated. We will celebrate the centenary of this solemn day at the end of this month.

When we speak of “we,” who are we referring to? It is a very broad “we” because Jean Eudes is a saint of the whole Church, not just of a particular group. However, some identify more closely with him—particularly the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity and the members of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, two institutes he founded in 1641 and 1643, respectively.

This core of foundations was later expanded with the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, established following the reform introduced by Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in 1835. This shared belonging has become even more visible since the reunification of the two institutes 11 years ago.

In addition to these direct foundations, there are congregations founded with reference to Saint Jean Eudes—either through a member of the Third Order he founded in 1648 or through a Eudist who accompanied the founding of a new institute. Today, this forms a family of 12 institutes across the world, with many lay faithful as well, not to mention all the collaborators engaged in the missions and works.

A celebration will take place in the Church of Saint Louis of the French in Rome on May 31 to mark the event, with a delegation from all Eudist provinces—both priests and laypeople. Other celebrations will, of course, take place in other parts of the world.

To celebrate Saint Jean Eudes is to seek to know him more deeply. Often, we only have a general idea of a few stages of his life, but there is still progress to be made in truly knowing his life, understanding his thought, believing in his intercession, and letting ourselves be inspired more deeply by his founding charisms.

We recognize in him a man passionate about Christ and his Mother, the Virgin Mary, desiring to make them known and loved everywhere and by all, with a heart full of consuming fire, always seeking the good of those he encountered. He understood the social and religious challenges of his time and found ways to respond to the needs he had discerned. He surrounded himself with collaborators and supporters to move forward together in his foundations. He was inventive in his forms of life, mission, action, and also in dissemination through his writings. He bore trials with patience and love for his detractors.

As the centenary approaches, it is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our attachment to Saint Jean Eudes, so that he may continue to guide everything he began, keep us faithful, and inspire us to be creative in proclaiming salvation in 2025!

Pilgrims of hope, let us renew the joy of being disciples of Saint Jean Eudes!