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"God is quicker to forgive than a mother to snatch her child from the fire."
- Saint John Vianney (1786 - 1859)
Today is the feast day of Saint John Vianney, also known as the Curé d'Ars. John was born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France to devout Catholic parents. During the French Revolution, when saying Mass was outlawed, the Vianneys as well as other Catholics would meet at a house where the priest, through great personal risk, would perform Mass. During this time, John began to look upon the priests as heros because of the risks they took in order to minister to their flock. In 1802, the Catholic Church was re-established in France, and priests no longer had to hide. Wanting to become a priest, John asked his father if he could study to become one. When John was 20 his father agreed, and John began to study in the neighboring village of Écully at a presbytery-school. John struggled with his studies, and had especial trouble with Latin. However, he persevered because of his desire to become a priest and through the kind patience of his teacher. In 1809, John was drafted and his studies were interrupted. A couple of days after he had to report to Lyons, he became ill and was put in the hospital and the army he was supposed to leave with left without him. After leaving the hospital, John was sent to an army in Roanne. As the army was leaving, John went into the church to pray and fell behind the group. He met a young man along the way who offered to help him get back to the army, but instead led him into the village of Les Noes where a group of deserters had gathered. John lived in the village for about fourteen months with the Fayot family. While in Les Noes, John opened a school for the children there and assumed the name of Jerome Vincent. In 1810, amnesty was granted to all deserters, and John went back to study in Écully. In 1815, John was ordained a priest. In 1818, John was appointed to be the parish priest of the small village of Ars. In Ars, John discovered that the people were quite indifferent and ignorant of their faith. John performed severe fasts and prayed for many hours in order to help cure this. He also preached against blasphemy and dancing, and spent a lot of time in the confessional. Over time, the village transformed and John became known for his spiritual guidance. People came from miles around to see John and to say their confessions to him. During the last ten years of his life, John spent 16 to 18 hours in the confessional a day. John often yearned for the contemplative life of a monk, and tried to run away four times. John had a great devotion to Our Lady and Saint Philomena. At the age of 73, in 1859, John died. More than 6,000 people came to his funeral. In 1925, John was canonized by Pope Pius XI. In 1929, Pius XI made John the patron saint of priests.
Saint John Vianney, pray for us!
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Quote, Picture, and Information about Saint John Vianney was taken from:
http://vianneyconfraternity.com/sayings-of-st-john-vianney/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=399#wiki
http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1097
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