The Magnificat of St John Eudes
HYMN OF PRAISE AND ACTION OF GRACE TO THE HEART OF JESUS AND MARY FOR ITS COUNTLESS GIFTS
My soul glorifies the admirable Heart of Jesus and Mary and my spirit rejoices in this boundless Heart which is mine!
Oh yes, Jesus and Mary gave me their Heart so that my life may be only fulfilled in their love.
Infinite praise to them for their indescribable love!
This good Heart has worked out wonders for me. It won me since I was in my mother’s womb.
The abyss of my misery was matched by the abyss of its mercy.
This very sweet Heart has always surrounded me with its sweetest blessings.
It gave me shelter in the shadow of its hand, it cared for me as if I were the apple of its eye.
It chose me so that I might become its priest; it raised me to the rank of its people’s princes;
It uttered its words through my mouth, so that my mouth became like a sharp blade.
It made me die, it made me live, it accompanied me along all the paths in my life.
It fought against my enemies and it delivered me from all trials.
Oh, Heart full of love, source of any good, from you countless gifts I have received!
Praise to you! Love and glory be yours! May any mouth sing your praise and any hea
rt cherish you!
May your glory be manifest in your mercy and in the wonders of your love!
May you be eternally blessed, praised and glorified for your actions of grace!
May the Father of mercy remember your sacrifice and accomplish all your desires!
Oh, Heart of Jesus, on the Cross you were transfixed out of love and of the sufferings you had to endure for our salvation: may our heart burn in your fire till the end of time!
Oh, Heart of Mary, transfixed by the sword of sorrow, may also our heart be transfixed by the love which comes from God!
Oh, Heart of Jesus and Mary, furnace of love, may our hearts be kindled within you for ever and ever!
May our hearts die in your flames and become one with the Heart of Jesus and Mary!
Glory to the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and to the God who is, was and will be for ever and ever. Amen.
This text can be considered as St John Eudes’s Magnificat, since it contains his Marian spirituality and follows Mary’s Magnificat. John Eudes referred to Mary’s prayer in order to celebrate the joy to feel God’s presence in his heart, as Mary did. Therefore, by tracing back Mary’s prayer, we can get hold of John Eudes’s spirituality.
F. Michel Meneau, Eudist