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 The Year for Priests Issue 1.40€: Saint John-Marie Baptiste Vianney 1.50€: The Good Shepherd Scott 1441-1442 (2010) The Feast of Saint John Vianney is celebrated on August 4, the anniversary of his death in 1859. The patron saint of parish priests, he is remembered for his "saintly life, mortification, persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession, and ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary". Born in 1786 in near Lyon, France, John Vianney was the son of a farmer and spent his early years as a shepherd. Growing up during the years surrounding the French Revolution and its aftermath, it was a time when practicing religion was done in secret. He was conscripted into the army, fell ill, and later deserted, and was sheltered by friendly villagers. He began preparation for the priesthood at age 20, eventually taking up studies in Lyon in 1813. The studies were very difficult, especially Latin, and Vianney, while very devout, was considered one of the most unlearned students at the seminary. After two years as a cure at Écully, he was appointed parish priest at Ars-en-Dombes, a remote village of 250 persons, where he remained for the rest of his life. He became known as the "Curé d’Ars" in this small French commune.  Church of Saint John Vianney, Ars-sur-Formans, France Early 20th Century Postcard From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain He was known for his skill in preaching and counseling, both during and outside confession. He also attacked blasphemy and immodesty. Vianney had a supernatural gift of reading the secrets of hearts, of being able to know about events at some distance from his location, and the gift of prophecy. He was visibly attacked by demonic spirits. Visitors flocked to Ars because of his fame, with as many as 300 daily and 20,000 persons annually visiting the commune. Railway schedules were developed to bring penitents to the tiny village. Vianney spent long hours in the confessional daily throughout his life. He set up an orphanage and school for poor girls and it is said that food multiplied miraculously to sustain the children. He refused promotions and honors. His austere life and long hours wore him out and he died at age 73 in 1859. The body of Saint John Mary Vianney is now entombed above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars, France.  Travels of Pope John Paul II, 1986 Ars, France with Image of Saint John Vianney Scott 801 (1987) John Vianney was beatified in January 1905 by Pope Pius X and declared him "a model to the parochial clergy". In 1925, he was canonized by Pope Pius XI, and in 1929 made him patron saint of parish priests. During a trip to France in 1986, Pope John Paul II visited Ars to honor St. John Vianney on the 200th anniversary of his birth. The Wikipedia reference below lists some of the many schools, seminaries, and churches named after Vianney around the world. In honor of the 150th anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney, Pope Benedict XVI declared 2009–2010 a Year for Priests, and Vatican City commemorated the celebration with the two-stamp set shown at the top of this article, featuring Saint John Vianney and the Good Shepherd. REFERENCES: |
