FEAST OF ST JOHN EUDES, PRIEST AND FOUNDER OF TWO RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
FEAST OF ST JOHN EUDES, PRIEST & FOUNDER.
"A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
"He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
"He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
"The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
"Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
"When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions." (Matthew 19: 16 - 22).
Monday 19th August 2024 in 20th Week in Ordinary Time, is the feast of St John Eudes. (1601 - 1680).
St John Eudes was a French priest and a gifted preacher.
John took a private vow of chastity at the age of 14 and was ordained a priest at 25. He became a great and talented preacher of the Gospel and an eminent evangelist. St John Eudes had great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
He founded the Society of Jesus and Mary (Eudists). He later founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge for ex prostitutes. He was declared by Pope Leo XIII as “father, doctor, and apostle of the liturgical cult of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.”
In the Gospel for today from Matthew 19: 16 - 22, Jesus gave a wealthy young man an evangelical counsel:
“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
"When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions."
The rich young man represents the world yesterday and today. He has built his security on material prosperity: stock market, gold and silver, real estate and liquid cash. That is where everyone wants to be in life, he must have thought to himself.
God's response to this pervasive materialism is in Deuteronomy 32: 18 - 21, the Responsorial Psalm for today?
"You have forgotten God who gave you birth."
It seems as if the world has forgotten the Savior who died for us. Very few are thinking of following Him and even these few have not recognized Him as the Pearl of the greatest Price. The Lord's complaint continues below:
"You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you. You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the Lord saw this, he was filled with loathing and anger toward his sons and daughters."
Who dares blame God if He is full of loathing for His children?
“I will hide my face from them,” he said, and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are, sons with no loyalty in them!”
“Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’ and angered me with their vain idols, I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’; with a foolish nation I will anger them.” (Deuteronomy 32: 18 - 21).
The rich young man of today's Gospel desires eternal life but loves the present material tangible world more. This world cannot produce the peace he hungers for. The anti-dote to his sadness is laid out clearly by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Come follow me and make my Kingdom your first priority and its kind of holiness. I promise you that you will have everything you need." (Cf Matthew 6: 33).
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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