Congregation of Jesus and Mary

Congregation of Jesus and Mary
The Eudists

Abbreviation	C.J.M. / C.I.M.
Motto	Vive Jesus et Marie
Formation	25 March 1643
Type	Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life
Headquarters	Via dei Querceti, 15 00184 Rome, Italy
Coordinates	41°53′14″N 12°29′51″E / 41.887335°N 12.497546°ECoordinates: 41°53′14″N 12°29′51″E / 41.887335°N 12.497546°E
Superior General	Fr. Camilo Bernal,cjm. (since January 2012)
Key people	Founder: St. John Eudes
Website	www.eudistes.org

The Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Latin: Congregatio Iesu et Mariae), commonly referred to as the Eudists (Latin: Congregatio Eudistarum) is a Society of Apostolic Life in the Roman Catholic Church.

History

The Congregation of Jesus and Mary was instituted at Caen, in Normandy, France on 25 March 1643, by Saint Jean Eudes, exemplar of the French school of spirituality. The principal works of the Congregation are the education of priests in seminaries and the giving of missions.^[1]

To develop the spirit of Jesus Christ in the members of the Congregation, Father Eudes caused to be celebrated every year in his seminaries the feast of the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ and of all Holy Priests and Levites. After the feast of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary it is the primary feast of the community. The solemnity begins on 13 November, and thus serves as a preparation for the renewal of the clerical promises on 21 November, the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin. As early as 1649 Father Eudes had prepared an Office proper to the feast. Some years later the feast and office were adopted by the Sulpician Fathers.^[1]

During the lifetime of Father Eudes, the congregation founded in France seminaries at Caen (1643), Coutances (1650), Lisieux (1653), Rouen (1658), Evreux (1667), and Rennes (1670). These were all "grand" or "major"seminaries; Father Eudes never thought of founding any other. He admitted, however, besides clerical students, priests with newly granted benefices who came for further study, those who wished to make retreats, and even lay students who followed the courses of the Faculty of Theology.^[1]

After his death, directors were appointed for the Seminaries of Valognes, Avranches, Dol, Senlis, Blois, Domfront and Séez. At Rennes, Rouen, and some other cities, seminaries were conducted for students of a poorer class who were called to exercise the ministry in country places. These were sometimes called "little" seminaries. The postulants were admitted early and made both secular and ecclesiastical studies.^[1]

During the French Revolution, three Eudists, Fathers Hébert, Potier, and Lefranc, were martyred at Paris in the massacres of September 1792. The cause of their beatification with that of some other victims of September has been introduced in Rome. Father Hébert was the confessor of King Louis XVI, and shortly before his death he made the king promise to consecrate his kingdom to the Sacred Heart if he escaped from his enemies.^[1]

After the Revolution, the Congregation had great difficulty in establishing itself again, and it was only in the second half of the nineteenth century that it began to prosper. Too late to take over again the direction of seminaries formerly theirs, the Eudists entered upon missionary work and secondary education in colleges. The "Law of Associations" (1906) brought about the ruin of the establishments which they had in France.^[1]

The Congregation as of 1913

Besides the scholasticates which they have opened in Belgium and in Spain, the Eudists directed in the early 20th century seminaries at Carthagena, at Antioquia, at Pamplona, at Panamá (South America), and at San Domingo, West Indies. In Canada they had the Vicariate Apostolic of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a seminary at Halifax, N.S., a college at Church Point, N.S., and at Caraquet, N.B., and a number of other less important establishments. They numbered about fifteen establishments and about one hundred and twenty priests in Canada in 1913. In France, where the majority still remains, the Eudists continue to preach missions and to take part in various other works.^[1] In 1947, the order acquired the Langley Park mansion in Langley Park, Maryland and operated a seminary there until 1963.^[2] In more recent times, the Congregation is active for a while in San Diego where they've had various pastoral assignments since the late 70's (Marian High School, SDSU Catholic Newman Center, Blessed Sacrament Parish, St James Parish, St Patrick Parish), in Los Angeles with the pastoral care of Saint John Eudes Catholic parish, in Phoenix AZ at St Jerome (one Associate). And in 2005 the Congregation opened its first community in Asia in Tagaytay Philippines, from there they moved to Quezon City (by Ateneo) where they have their house of Formation Saint John Eudes, also a retreat house in Taytay, Rizal, and the Eudists there help with ministry and retreats in many parishes around the area.

Canonical status and organization

The purpose which Father Eudes assigned to his congregation made him decide not to introduce religious vows. He was persuaded that, better than instituted religious, secular priests were in a position to inspire young seminarians with a high idea of the priesthood and of the sanctity which it required. He also felt that bishops would not so willingly give their seminaries over to priests who were not entirely subject to them. Eudes shared the opinions of Pierre de Bérulle and Jean-Jacques Olier, who also did not think it proper to admit religious vows in the orders which they founded. Even Vincent de Paul did so only after great hesitation and on the condition, ratified by the pope, that his priests should not form a religious order, but an ecclesiastical congregation.^[1]

The Congregation of Jesus and Mary is not a religious order, but a society of apostolic life, under the immediate jurisdiction of the bishops, to aid in the formation of the clergy. It is composed of priests, and seminarians; there are also lay brothers employed in temporal affairs, but who do not wear clerical garb.^[1]

Although not a religious order, the Congregation of Jesus and Mary is subject to discipline which does not differ from that of religious orders with simple vows. The administration is modelled on that of the Oratorians to which Eudes had belonged for twenty years. The supreme authority resides in a general assembly which names the superior general and which is called, at intervals, to control his administration. It alone can make permanent laws. In the intervals between the general assemblies, the superior general, elected for five years and can be re-elected for a second term of the same duration, exercises full authority in matters spiritual and temporal. He has the right to name and depose local superiors, to fix the personnel of each house, to make the annual visit, to admit, and, in case of necessity, to dismiss, subjects, to accept or to give up foundations, and, in general, to perform, or at least to authorize, all important acts. He is aided by assistants, named by the general assembly, who have a deciding vote in temporal affairs, and a consulting vote only in other questions.^[1]

The current Superior General of the congregation is Rev. Camilo Bernal, C.J.M.; the Vicar General is Rev. Luc Crepy, C.J.M.^[3]

See also

• Consecrated life
• Institutes of consecrated life
• Religious institute (Catholic)
• Secular institute
• Vocational Discernment in the Catholic Church

Sources

1. Le Brun, Charles (1909). "Eudists". The Catholic Encyclopedia 5. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
2. Susan G. Pearl (October 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Langley Park / McCormick-Goodhart Mansion" (pdf). National Park Service. (80 pages including 30 photos and 2 maps)
3. Bernal, Camilo; Luc Crepy (8 September 2009). "Letter to the Congregation of Jesus and Mary" (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2010.

External links

• Les Eudistes (French)
• Eudists in the USA (English)