St John Vianney
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. John Vianney. St. John was a saint who lived a life that was greatly devoted to Christ. St. John was a man who wanted to become a priest however he had encountered many challenges with his schooling. One of his obstacles includes his struggle to comprehend Latin lectures which had forced him to discontinue his schooling. But his large desire and vision of being a priest had urged him to seek private tutoring. After a very long battle with the books, St. John was able to he ordained.
However, this was not the end of his struggles, while St. John was a pastor of a parish in Ars, St. John had encountered people who were very indifferent and quite comfortable with their style of living. St. John’s large devotion to being a priest had led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep.
With the help from Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he was able to establish La Providence, a home for girls. Only a man a few people would be able to have the large trust that St. John had in God. St. John trusted that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of all those who decided to go to make La Providence their home.
St. John’s work as a confessor was extremely remarkable, he was able to change many peoples lives. During the winter months he would spend 11 to 12 hours a day reconciling people with God. During the summer months this time he would spend would be increased to 16 hours. His true desire to be a priest is what helped him to devote himself so greatly to others. As his fame had spread, more hours were spent serving God’s people. Even the very few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed frequently by the devil.
During the year 1929, Pope Pius XI had named him the patron of parish priests worldwide.
St. John’s feast day is celebrated on August 4.
Prayer to St. John Vianney
St. John intercede that we may be able to guide more people to Christ by spending more time with them in prayer and by offering up our time and thoughts for them.
Amen
St. John pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Franciscan media. “Saint John Vianney. ”Saint John Vianney | Franciscan Media. Accessed August 4, 2021.
Images:
Saint John Vianney. August 4, 2021. Saint John Vianney - Google Search.