St. John Vianney

A struggling seminarian sent to a dead village who heard confessions up to eighteen hours a day.

The story

John Vianney nearly failed to be ordained; Latin defeated him. Assigned to Ars, a village of 230 souls indifferent to the faith, he fasted, prayed, preached, and sat in the confessional. By the 1850s over 100,000 pilgrims came a year, and the railway sold special tickets. The devil harassed him at night for decades. He read hearts, and he never left Ars.

What John teaches

Holiness in one priest can convert a nation. Sanctity is the most effective pastoral plan there is.

Patronage

parish priests.

Prayer

St. John Vianney, pray for our priests, that they may be holy, faithful, and tireless in mercy. Amen.