Caen The City of Saint John Eudes

Saint John Eudes, missionary of Normandy, founded in Caen the sisters of Our Lady of Charity in 1641, for women in distress, and in 1643 the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, for the training of priests. He wrote the first liturgical offices of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and died in Caen on August 19, 1680.

In 1884 his remains were laid in the crypt of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gloriette, once the chapel of the Jesuit college; the church is closed for restoration until 2027. Caen also has the two abbeys that William the Conqueror and Queen Matilda founded in the 1060s; each of them is buried in their own.

Further reading: Sacred Heart in France: Paray-le-Monial to Montmartre.

• Notre-Dame-de-la-GlorietteThe Jesuit church of the seventeenth century, linked to the memory of Saint John Eudes.
• The Abbey of Saint-ÉtienneThe Men’s Abbey, with the tomb of William the Conqueror.
• The Abbey of the Holy TrinityThe Ladies’ Abbey, with the tomb of Queen Matilda.

• August 19Feast of Saint John Eudes

• Saint John EudesApostle of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

• Via IncarnationisThe Way of the Incarnation, seven daysDay III, Paris to Caen · Day IV, Caen to Montfort-sur-Meu

About two hours by train from the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris.

• BayeuxThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Bayeux, about 16 miles as the crow flies
• LisieuxThe Shrine of Saint Thérèse, about 27 miles as the crow flies
• Le Bec-HellouinThe Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec, about 49 miles as the crow flies
• CoutancesThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Coutances, about 50 miles as the crow flies