He promoted this devotion and also developed the theology of the two hearts into what we now know as the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He wrote prayers, litanies, Masses and even Divine Offices for devotion and honour to them. It is due to him that the first liturgical feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was approved - even before the apparition of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque.
The theology and spirituality of St John Eudes is categorised into what is called the “French School” of spirituality. Among the spiritual writers in this school of thought are: St Frances de Sales, St Louis de Montfort, St Jane de Chantal, St Vincent de Paul, Cardinal de Berulle, Bishop Bousette, and St John Eudes.
This school of spirituality from Frances in the 17th-20th century, has an emphasis on imitating Jesus, living his virtues, personal holiness, regular participation in the Sacraments, and the gentle but passionate love of God for us in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. This school totally opposed the heresy of Jansenism which almost exclusively over emphasised sin, God’s wrath, evil, corrupt human nature and the unworthiness of people before the holiness of God. It was fear based and discouraged people from receiving Holy Communion regularly and has negatively influenced us to this day (as mentioned in previous posts), especially seen in those who struggle with scrupulosity, which can be understood as a type of “religious obsessive compulsive disorder”.
As a means to try and evangelise people and protect them from the dangers of Jansenism, as well as general moral decay, spiritual corruption, and clerical corruption - he saw the dire need to found seminaries for the formation of clergy. Many priests at the time were so poorly formed as to barely celebrate the Mass properly whilst mumbling the words of the prayers, did not preach or when they did it was incorrect or scandalous. Their very ministry deformed the people they ministered to instead of edifying and sanctify them as priests are ordained to do.
Seminaries were not common at that time as they had only recently been mandated by the Council of Trent, but it has not yet been implemented at that time in France. So he established seminaries, was a tiredness preacher and confessor himself, and wanted priests to truly be men of God who bring Jesus Christ to the people and people to Jesus through his pastoral ministry. This also led to him founding multiple religious congregations (Eudists, Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, third order of Society of the Heart of the Mother Most Admirable) and charity organisations to help woman escape from prostitution due to economic poverty, known as “Houses of Refuge”.
When we encounter and experience the depth of God’s love for us, it is impossible to remain static. We feel compelled to share it with others (2 Corinthians 5:14) and do all we can to help them experience what we have experienced. This is the foundation of evangelisation - spreading the Good News of salvation. For St John Eudes, the source of this love was to be found and known in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the forge of love.
Biblically and spiritually, the heart is not just a bodily organ, it is also the centre or core of our being, and is also understood as the seat of our emotions (CCC #2563) . So devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the fullest expression that highlights this mystery of his love for us, his burning charity that made him become human flesh in the Incarnation, so that his physical heart could beat for us in love. This is what the Sacred Heart means, it is far more than just a kitsch pious symbol without substance. It is a source of wonder and contemplation that should capture of own hearts in amazement. This is why St John Eudes on his Litany to the Sacred Heart that he composed, refers to Jesus as the King of all hearts and the enraptor of hearts.
The mystery of the Incarnation, of God becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us, is the basis to understand the spirituality of Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is also what connects the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Jesus received and took all of his humanity from Mary herself, his Virgin Mother. This is the miracle of the “virgin birth” and that mystery of God Incarnate. But if Jesus only had one human biological parent, then this means that his very flesh, his body, his heart - all come from Mary’s. Mary like all of us is created by God, but through her Immaculate Conception she has specifically been chosen and prepared by God himself for his dwelling place and his mother. This is a wondrous mystery that many saints throughout the centuries have meditated on and written about. So if God dwells physically in Mary through the Incarnation, and she has always been “full of grace” from the moment of her conception - then she has always had God spiritually present in her heart. Not only is Jesus present in the heart of Mary as the source of her love and faith, but as the core of her being then Jesus Christ himself is also the very “heart” of Mary.
This is the conclusion that St John Eudes came to and the basis for his theology of the two hearts. But for him, he goes as far to say that ultimately they are only ONE heart. So that the Immaculate Heart of Mary is Jesus himself, and wherever he is, she is also there, because they are always united in the flesh they share - and so we too are all called to be united to them both. This is why devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary cannot be separated from the Sacred Heart of Jesus and vice versa. The hearts of Jesus and Mary unite as one heart burning in charity for us all, as a forge of love that will mould and refashion us into the image of Christ that has been disfigured in us all through Original Sin.
Understanding the basis of St John Eudes devotion and spirituality, helps to understand why he wrote Liturgical Offices and Masses for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was able to get papal approval for these so no one could ever accuse him of heresy or novelty, and so he truly is the Father and Teacher of devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. His doctrine was the basis for the Encyclical Haurietis Aqua of Pope Pius XII on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this encyclical, although there are no direct references or quotes from St John Eudes - when you compare St John Eudes’ teachings and the Encyclical you can see just how similar they are. Without the contribution of St John Eudes - our current theology, understanding and devotion to the Sacred Heart would not be possible on the approved and highest official level of the Magisterium.
May St John Eudes help us all to be so united to Jesus, that together with him we may dwell with him in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, where both Sacred Hearts burning with charity for all, beat in union as one heart. May we see this same burning love for us hidden in the Eucharist, so as we burn for love of Christ, he can inflame us with his very own love for us, and indeed all the world.
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