Saint John Vianney
Feast day: August 4
Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, patron of parish priests, who heard confessions day and night (04/08)
Who is he?
Saint John Vianney was a French parish priest, usually called “the Curé of Ars.” He was not a scholar, but through prayer and his love for souls, he brought a great many people back to God. In 1929, Pope Pius XI named him patron saint of parish priests all over the world.
Life story
He was born in May 1786 in the village of Dardilly, near the city of Lyon, into a devout farming family. When he was little, the French Revolution banned the faith. His family had to attend secret Masses celebrated by priests who were in hiding. At 13, he made his First Communion in a kitchen, with the windows covered.
He longed to become a priest, but he learned very slowly, especially Latin. He kept studying patiently and prayed a lot. On 13 August 1815, he was ordained a priest.
In 1818, he was sent to Ars, a small village of only about 230 people, many of whom had grown lukewarm in their faith. According to tradition, on the way he got lost and asked a shepherd boy for directions. He said to the boy: “Show me the way to Ars, and I will show you the way to heaven.”
In Ars, he prayed for long hours before the Eucharist, ate very simply, visited every family and taught catechism to the children. Little by little, the whole village was renewed. Then people came from all over France to make their confession to him; in some years, about 20,000 people. He sat in the confessional every day for 11 to 16 hours, listening to and comforting each person.
On 4 August 1859, he died in Ars, at 73 years old. In 1925, Pope Pius XI canonized him.
Why is he a saint?
Saint John Vianney was not a good student. He became a saint because he was humble, prayed constantly and loved souls more than himself. He showed God’s mercy through the sacrament of Reconciliation.
A lesson for you
- When studying is hard, don’t give up: try your very best and ask God to help you, like Father Vianney.
- Go to Confession often and pray for your parish priest.
- When you go into a church, stop for a few minutes to talk with Jesus in the Eucharist.
Identifying marks
- A purple stole over a white surplice: the stole priests wear to hear confessions; he sat in the confessional up to 16 hours a day.
- A black cassock: the clothes of a French country parish priest of the 19th century.
- A Rosary in his joined hands: he prayed a great deal and loved Mary.
- Thin, with long white hair and hollow cheeks: he ate very little and made many sacrifices for his people.
- The church of Ars (*): the little church where he was parish priest for 41 years.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
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