(Society of Jesus and Mary) An ecclesiastical society instituted
at Caen, France, 25 March, 1643, by the Venerable Jean Eudes.
The principal works of the society are the education of priests
in seminaries and the giving of missions. The end which Father
Eudes assigned to his society made him decide not to introduce
religious vows. He was persuaded that, better than religious,
priests, finding in the very dignity with which they were
invested the reason and means of rising to eminent perfection,
were in a position to inspire young clerics 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. Father
Eudes shared the opinions of Cardinal de Bérulle and Father
Olier, who did not think it proper to admit religious vows in
the orders which they founded. Even St. Vincent de Paul did so
only after great hesitation and on the condition, ratified by
the sovereign pontiff, tha