4 August 2022
Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest
Today we are privileged to celebrate another great saint of the Church, St. John Vianney (1786-1859). Superheroes today are seen in movies which recount the stories of superhuman power and ability. When John Vianney was a growing up, he saw heroes as the priests who risked their lives to say Mass during the reign of Terror, the violent phase of the French revolution where nuns and priests lost their lives for admitting their dedication to the Catholic Faith. After the Napoleonic wars, John became a priest in the city of Ars and became well known as a confessor and spiritual guide. He provided an astute combination of pastoral care with firm direction, preaching particularly against the offenses of the day which included drinking, dancing, and bad language. In short, he guided his flock in the path of sanctity. The sheep recognized their shepherd and thousands flocked to his confessional where he often spent more than twelve hours a day. St. John Vianny stands today as the model for priests, a model for how to bring others to God through the sacraments, particularly confession and the frequent reception of the eucharist.