Feast Day is August 4th
St. John Mary Vianney (Saint Jean Baptiste Vianney in French) was born on May 8, 1786 in the village of Dardilly in France. The son of a poor farmer, he worked as a shepherd on the farm in his youth and taught other children their prayers and catechism. He did not receive any formal education until he was 20 years old.
While a student he was called for military service, and became a delinquent military recruit more or less because of illness, and hid to escape Napoleon’s police. He had difficulty learning Latin, and twice failed the examinations required before ordination. He was finally ordained at the age of 30, but was thought to be so incompetent he was placed under the direction of Fr. Balley, a holy priest in a neighboring village, for further training.
St. John was assigned to Ars, a tiny remote village near Lyons, which suffered from lax attendance. He spent almost forty-two years of his life as the Cure (Pastor) of Ars, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. He preached in a very simple manner, had a great love of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother and he had a special devotion to St. Philomena.
The Cure of Ars lived an austere life, ate potatoes he boiled, and learned to keep suspended by a rope from the ceiling, so the rats wouldn’t get to them. He allowed himself 2 hours of sleep each night and was frequently interrupted by the devil, who assaulted him with deafening noises, insulting conversation, and physical abuse. These diabolical visitations were occasionally witnessed with alarm by the men of the parish, but the pious He accepted the attacks as a matter of course and often joked about them.The frail Cure began hearing confessions at 1 o’clock in the morning, and spent from 14 to 18 hours a day in the cramped confessional. Crowds flocked to the confessional because of his reputation with penitents, and many came to hear him preach. By 1855, there were 20,000 pilgrims a year traveling to Ars.
His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance, including bishops and aristocracy, who made the journey to Ars in order to receive his spiritual counsel. Through his work, he brought about a spiritual renewal that touched not only the people of his parish but all of France.
His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance, including bishops and aristocracy, who made the journey to Ars in order to receive his spiritual counsel. Through his work, he brought about a spiritual renewal that touched not only the people of his parish but all of France.
Thus, St. John Vianney was a man who started his life as one who very few thought would ever amount to anything, but gave God permission to use him as the vehicle for thousands of conversions. He is, for us today, an example of how God works wonderfully through those who dedicate their lives to him and who seek to do his will. John Vianney, a humble parish priest is regarded by the Church as one of its great figures simply because he was faithful and obedient.
St. John Vianney died peacefully on August 4, 1859. His body was exhumed because of his impending beatification, and was found perfectly entire. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonized by Pope Pius XI. St. John Vianney is the only diocesan priest to be canonized and is the patron saint of parish priests.
