ST. JOHN VIANNEY
PATRON SAINT OF PAROCHIAL CLERGY

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVl has called upon the Universal Church of Christ to study and examine in a profound way the writings and teachings of the Cure de Ars, St. John Vianney.  In a time of need although vocations to the priesthood have risen very slowly around the world vocations in Europe and the United States have failed to keep pace with the rest of the world, namely Africa and India. 

In our studies of this great saint we will examine his life and his works and try to delve into his spirituality so as to understand why the Holy Father has made this Canonical Year his year and that of priests.

Born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, near Lyons France he was baptized John Mary Vianney.  It was a turbulent age into which he born because at the tender age of the three the French Revolution broke out and the Catholic Church was thrust into a persecution of Biblical proportions.  By the age of five his hometown of Dardilly was being “served” by a “constitutional priest”, in short, a priest chosen by the government.  Little John and his family secretly assisted at Mass given by a fugitive priest, one who remained loyal to Christ and his successor to St. Peter.

Known to be a pious boy he preferred to play church rather than many of the games that his friends played and was constantly urging his friends to be good.  He was a herd boy and tended to the sheep and cattle.  This would come to suit him well because as a priest he would be one Church’s most beloved and most devoted of pastors.

At the age of eighteen John asked leave of his father, Matthew, to enter the study for the priesthood.  Unfortunately, his father could not grant his son’s wish because of a lack of funds and the need to have his son continue helping on the farm.  John took this in good stride and by the time he reached twenty his father gave him permission to leave for the neighboring village of Ecully, where the Abbe Balley had established what was then called a “presbytery-school” what might be called today a Charter School. 

His studies were difficult…

Next issue, St. John’s studies and formation.