The Congregation of Jesus and Mary, also known as the Eudists, was founded in France by Saint John Eudes in 1643.

1. Anniversary of the CJM
March 25, 1643

2. 1
Foundation of the Congregation
of Jesus and Mary
In the year 1643, our Lord and his Holy Mother, out
of an excess of their goodness, granted us the grace
to begin the establishment of our small
Congregation on March 25, the day the Son of God
was incarnated and the holy Virgin Mary was made
Mother of God.
To the Holy Trinity, to the humanity of Christ Jesus,
to the fruitfulness of the Virgin Mother, let there be
eternal praise, honor, and glory forever and ever.
Amen.
(O.C. XII, 112-113)

3. Historical Reference
The Congregation of Jesus and Mary, also known as
the Eudists, was founded in France by Saint John
Eudes in 1643. John Eudes, formed by Cardinal
Pierre de Bérulle, learned from him a passionate love
for the Incarnate Verb and, particularly, for the
priesthood of Jesus Christ.
As a fervent missionary, he traversed through the
regions of France and gained insight into the
predicament of numerous priests of his era, who
were lacking in their training, apostolic charity, and
needed spiritual care.
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4. Juan Eudes decided to establish a congregation of
priests who would primarily focus on the formation of
priests in the preparation stage and also support them in
their ministry. For this foundation, he chose March 25,
which is the day the Church celebrates the Mystery of the
Incarnation.
His love for the Incarnate Verb and the Priesthood led
him to prefer this date. During his life (1601-1680), he
founded 6 seminaries in various French dioceses,
including Normandy and Brittany.
At the time of the seminar, academic teaching was not
given, but rather preparation for ordination was attended
to. Time was dedicated to learning the celebration of the
sacraments and pastoral practices.
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5. The Congregation of Jesus and Mary expressed its
concern for the priesthood and missions, and vowed to
uphold its fidelity. St. John Eudes judiciously observed
that his Congregation should not possess the structure
of religious orders, as he sought to maintain close ties
with the diocesan clergy.
Therefore, he did not provide the Eudists with the form
of religious life through vows. The current division of
congregations in the Canon Law places the Eudists in
consecrated life, in the group of Societies of Apostolic
Life, distinguished by living together and being
incorporated into the congregation through a perpetual
promise of faithfulness, which they call incorporation.
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6. Mary, my beloved Mother, I give you, or rather, I
place in your hands, the small Congregation of Jesus
and Mary. You wanted to give it to me out of an
excess of your inexplicable kindness.
You know that I have offered, given, and consecrated
it to you hundreds of times in my life. Use the
sovereign power that Jesus has given you to take
full, absolute, and eternal possession of it. And you
yourself give it entirely to your Son, Jesus Christ.
Ask Him to destroy in her everything that displeases
him and to establish in her the reign of his holy love
and his adorable will.
Prayer to Most Holy Mary for the
Congregation of Jesus and Mary
(OC VIII, 357-358)
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7. May she be filled with your divine Spirit, may she be
humble, obedient, charitable, pure, and zealous for the
glory of God the Father. May she be filled with hatred for
sin, love for the cross, and aversion to anything that is
not pleasing to you. May she detach herself from the
world and despise it. May you protect, support, and
defend her from all adversity.
May it attract to her numerous evangelical workers who
dedicate themselves to forming many holy priests, and
courageous pastors, and to work effectively in the
salvation of souls through the exercises of missions.
In the end, may He do everything according to His Heart,
and may He fulfill in her all the designs of His goodness,
whatever it takes, that He may annihilate us before
allowing us to put obstacles to His will because of our
sins. Amen.
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8. The Eudists want to be faithful to the motto left by the
founder: To serve Christ and the Church with a great
heart and determined effort.