Introduction: General Preface 1x

The second French edition appeared in 1 9 3 5 , Oeuvres Choisies de Saint Jean Eudes, prepared under the direction of Father Lebrun, the leading authority on Eudistic research. It comprises nine volumes: The Life and Kingdom of Jesus in Christian Souls, Meditations of Various Subjects, Regulae Vitae Christianae et Sacerdotalis, Man's Contract with God in Holy Baptism, Letters and Minor Works, Writings on the Priesthood, The Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Admirable Heart of Mary, and The Admirable Childhood of the Mother of God. The format of

V111- General Preface

these volumes is compact and more convenient than the 1905 edition, which is now out of print.

The publication of the works of St. John Eudes revealed the extent and depth of their spiritual doctrine. Cardinal Pitra, who was associated with the cause of Beatification, discovered in the writings of St. John Eudes a remarkable depth of thought and purity of doctrine. Cardinal Vives has more recently expressed his admiration:

I was acquainted with the Doctors of the Order of Saint Francis; I was acquainted with Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross, the mystical writers of my own country, Spain; but I was completely ignorant of the writings of Father Eudes. As a member of the Sacred Congregation of Rites it was my duty to study his life and his works, and I am in admiration. Blessed John Eudes must be ranked with the great lights of the Church. His spiritual doctrine is profound and of wonderful exactitude. He is one of the writers who has best propounded the doctrine of the Gospel.(4).

The late Father Ange Le Doré, for fifty years Superior General of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, wrote:

The works of Blessed John Eudes, although they do not bear the scientific touch of the professional theologian, are nevertheless proof of his remarkable theological, ascetic and scriptural knowledge.... He is not a Doctor after the fashion of the scholastics of the thirteenth century or of the great theologians of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As they, he might have built up theses and composed books didactic in form; but he was before all a saver of souls. For him the science of theology found its chief field of usefulness in the practice of virtue and in the acquisition of sanctity of which it is the principle.... He was a Doctor after the manner of the Apostles, the Fathers of the Church, St. Francis de Sales and St. Alphonsus de Liguori. The science which shines in his works not only emits light; it engenders piety and sanctity.(5)

The spiritual doctrine expounded by St John Eudes follows the teaching of Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle and Father Charles de Condren, two prominent members of the seventeenth-century French School of Spirituality. St. John Eudes applies this doctrine to the devotion to the (4). Quoted by P. A. Bray, C.J.M., Saint John Eudes (Halifax, 1925), P. 116. (5). Quoted by Buy, op. cit., p. 117.

General Preface 1x

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, developing and rendering it more precise and practical. He has the rare gift of expressing the most sublime truths in simple, familiar language. He also excels i n condensing into a few pages a complete scheme of Christian life and perfection.

The wish was repeatedly expressed that these inspirational writings could be made available to English-speaking readers. Excellent abridged editions of certain books were published in England and in Canada, but they did not do justice to the literary value of the Saint. Consequently, the Eudist Fathers commemorating their tercentenary in 1943 resolved to publish a complete translation of the principal works of their founder. Competent translators were secured and much time and effort were expended to produce readable volumes in modern English, faithful to the spirit and style of the original.

The first English edition, Selected Works of Saint John Eudes, is the result. In presenting it to the public the Eudist Fathers and the Religious of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, and of the Good Shepherd, wish to thank all those who contributed to the success of this comprehensive undertaking. They are especially grateful to the distinguished churchmen who have so graciously accepted to introduce these volumes to Catholic readers, because they consider that the works of St. John Eudes should be more widely known. The Saint in his apostolic work and in his writings ranks with the eminent figures who belong not to one country and to one religious order but to the universal Church. Three centuries have passed since he wrote the works now being printed in the new world, a striking illustration that he wrote for all time. He still speaks in accents that penetrate the mind and heart of the reader to enlighten, purify and sanctify so that Jesus Christ may live and reign in the Christian soul.

Wilfrid E.myatt, C.j.m

Patrick J. Skinner, C.j.m

Editors

Holy Heart Seminary Halifax, N. S.

Feast of St. John Eudes, 1945

Contents

General Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. xxi Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... iii Prayers before and after Meditation . . . . . . . . .I

Meditations on the Mysteries of Jesus

for

Each Day of the Week

Meditation for Sunday: The Divine Life of Jesus in the Bosom of the Heavenly Father . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Meditation for Monday: The Incarnation . . . . . . . 17 Meditation for Tuesday: The Holy Childhood of Jesus . . . . 2 0 Meditation for Wednesday: The Hidden and Laborious Life of Jesus 22 Meditation for Thursday: The Public Life of Jesus and His Life in the Blessed Eucharist . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Meditation for Friday: The Passion and Death of Jesus . . . . 2 8 Meditation for Saturday: The Life of Jesus in Mary and of Mary in Jesus .. 31 Second Meditation for Sunday: The Glorious Life of Jesus in Heaven 33 Another Meditation for Sunday: The Mysteries of Christ's Life 3 5 X1-

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Interior Colloquies

of a

Christian Soul with God

First Colloquy: God's Favors to Us before Our Creation and Our Consequent Debt to Him . . 41 Second Colloquy: God's Favors to Us by Our Creation and Preserva tion and Our Obligations towards Him . . . . . . . 45 Third Colloquy: The Dignity and Sanctity of Our Ultimate End . 48 Fourth Colloquy: Our Obligations to God for the Creation and Preservation of the World 51 Fifth Colloquy: The Divine Claims upon Our Allegiance because of Our Creation . . . . . 55 Sixth Colloquy: The Rights of God over Man as a Result of Creation 58 Seventh Colloquy: Man's Obligation to God by Reason of the Preceding Rights . . 61 Eighth Colloquy: Our Obligation to Love, Honor, Imitate and Serve God for All that He Is in Himself . . . . . . . . 66 Ninth Colloquy: Our Obligations to God as Christians, and What It Means to Be a Christian . . .. 71 Tenth Colloquy: Admirable Accomplishments of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in Making Us Christians . . . . . . . 75 Eleventh Colloquy: By Baptism We Are Made Christians . . . 79 Twelfth Colloquy: Baptism Is a Divine Contract between God and Man . . .84 Meditation: The Choice of a State of Life . . . . . . . 89

Contents X111

Meditations on Humility

First Meditation: on the Words: Nihil Sumus, "We Are Nothing. 96 Second Meditation: Annihilation of Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . 99 Third Meditation: Annihilation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of Holy Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Fourth Meditation: We Are Nothing from Every Point of View . 104 Fifth Meditation: On the Words: Nihil Possumus, "We Can Do Nothing 107 Sixth Meditation: On the Words: Nihil Valemus, "We Are Worth Nothing 110 Seventh Meditation: On the Words: Nihil Habemus Praeter Peccatum, "We Possess Nothing but Sin." . . . . . . . . . 112 Eighth Meditation: On the Words: Servi Inutiles Sumus, "We Are Unprofitable Servants .114 Ninth Meditation: On the Words: Natura FiIii Irae, "We Were Born Children of Wrath .117 Tenth Meditation: On the Same Words: "We Were Born Children of Wrath . 119 Eleventh Meditation: On the Same Words: "We Were Born Children of Wrath 122 Twelfth Meditation: On the Same Words: "We Were Born Children of Wrath 125 Thirteenth Meditation: On the Same Words: "We Were Born Children of Wrath." .129 Fourteenth Meditation: On the Words: Novissimi Virorum, "The Last of Men 131 Fifteenth Meditation: On the Same Words: "The Last of Men." . 134 xiv - CONTENTS Sixteenth Meditation: On the Same Words: "The Last of Men." 138 Seventeenth Meditation: On the Words: Primi Peccatorum, "The First of Sinners .141

Meditat1ons

Birth and Baptism

First Meditation: Duties to Be Rendered to God an die Anniversary of Our Birth .148 Second Meditation: Our Obligation of Loving and Serving God . . 151 Third Meditation: Institution of the Sacrament of Baptism . . . 155 Fourth Meditation: The Mysteries of Which Baptism Makes Us Par ticipants 157 Fifth Meditation: Administration and Ceremonies of Baptism . . 160 Sixth Meditation: Profession of Baptism . . . . . . . . 163

Meditation for the First Day: Submission to the Will of God . . . 170 Meditation for the Second Day: Thanksgiving for Graces Received . 174 Meditation for the Third Day: Confession, and Satisfaction for Our Sins . . 176

Contents Xv

Meditation for the Fourth Day: Holy Communion . . . . . 179 Meditation for the Fifth Day: Extreme Unction . . . . . . 181 Meditation for the Sixth Day: The Last Will and Testament of Jesus and the One that We Should Make in Its Honor . . . . . 183 Meditation for the Seventh Day: Our Last Agony and the Moment of Death . 189 Meditation for the Eighth Day: The Particular Judgment . . . 192 Meditation for the Ninth Day: Death and Burial . . . . . 196 Meditation for the Tenth Day: The Entrance of the Soul into Heaven 200

The Admirable Childhood

Of

The Blessed Virgin Mary

First Meditation: The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary 205 Second Meditation: Our Obligations to Honor and Imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood . . . . . . 208 Third Meditation: The Innocence and Simplicity of the Blessed Vir gin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood . . . . . . . 211 Fourth Meditation: The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood . . 214 Fifth Meditation: The Obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood . 217 Sixth Meditation: The Charity and Meekness of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood 220

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Seventh Meditation: The Silence of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Her Admirable Childhood . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Eighth Meditation: The Modesty of the Blessed Virgin Wry in Her Admirable Childhood 226

VII