St. John Baptist Marie Vianney
(1786-1859)

John Vianney was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meager, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars.

Here 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. He regularly spent 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional surviving on only a few hour sleep and a diet of boiled potatoes.

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.

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 cannonized and is the patron saint of parish priests.

Favorite Quotes of St. John Vianney

"All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man."

"I throw myself at the foot of the Tabernacle like a dog at the foot of his Master."

"If we could comprehend all the good things contained in Holy Communion, nothing more would be wanting to content the heart of man. The miser would run no more after his treasures, or the ambitious after glory; each would shake off the dust of the earth, leave the world, and fly away towards heaven."

"When we go before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our heart; our good God will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other."



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