August 4th the Church
celebrates one of the greatest priests that ever walked the earth—Saint John
Maria Vianney, known as “The Cure of
Ars”. Many excellent books as well
as articles have been written on this saintly priest, especially by Abbe
Trochou, Tan publishers. St. John XXXIII
actually wrote an encyclical
letter on this great saint.
This short article has as its purpose
the desire to motivate priests, Bishops, and future priests (seminarians) to
look to him as a splendid model to imitate. We will highlight only five of the
extraordinary virtues of this brilliant star in the firmament of heaven—in the
words of Hans von Balthasar.
1.
PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE AND
PERSEVERANCE. The Cure of Ars lived in
difficult times, the French Revolution and its aftermath. As a seminarian studies did not come easy to
him. On one occasion a fellow seminarian slapped him in the face because he was
so slow to learn. Vianney knelt down and apologized for his slowness. Despite
the countless obstacles, St. John did persevere and was ordained to the
priesthood. One thing he indeed did well was Prayer! Let us pray for priests
that they may be patient with God, patient with others, patient in difficult
and trying circumstances and patient with their own human fragility.
2.
PENANCE.
Jesus said that some devils are expelled only by prayer and fasting.
Upon entering his new Parish, the Cure was aware of the sick and lame spiritual
status of his Parish. Give in to despair, he did not! Rather, he entrusted
himself to God and His omnipotence.
Before speaking much to the people the Cure of Ars poured his pure and
suffering heart out to God with these words: “God I beg you to convert my parish. I will accept any sufferings you
send me, but convert my parish.” He spent long hours in prayer; sometimes
he would spend the whole night in prayer. He added, to this, severe fasting.
Sometimes he would go a day or more without eating. On other occasions he would
boil a pot of potatoes at the start of the week and eat two or three a day—all
done for the love of God and for the salvation of immortal souls.
3.
ELIMINATE THE CAUSE OF SIN. In his parish, one of the primary sources of
sin were the taverns/bars--- we would call them “Nightclubs”. Sin was rampant
in these places of perdition: vulgar words, excessive drinking and lewd dancing
and gestures all prevailed. Ruthlessly,
the Cure of Ars prayed, fasted and preached against these houses of sin. In
time, victory: all were closed. The Cure
of Ars teaches us that to overcome and conquer sin we must avoid the near
occasions of sin which can be persons, places, things or circumstances. He who
plays with fire will be burnt; he who walks on thin-ice will cave in to the
cold water.
4.
CONFESSION. The Cure of Ars is probably best known as
Confessor. After several years of
intense prayer, fasting, the discipline and teaching (he taught catechism to
his people every day at 11:00, a.m.) the people returned to the Parish and
eventually from all places. The
holiness, love and apostolic zeal of this priest and true man of God drew many
people to look into the depths of their hearts, examine their consciences and
have recourse to the Sacrament of God’s infinite mercy. St. John Vianney would spend long hours in
the confessional, some days as long as 14-15-16 hours hearing sins and
reconciling souls to the merciful Heart of Jesus. We should also recall that
250 years ago the churches and the confessionals had neither heat nor
air-conditioning. That means that in the summer his confessional could be
compared to an oven; in the winter, to a deep-freeze refrigerator. Despite
these two extremes the holy Cure of Ars was never known to complain but rather
to thank the “Good God” that he loved so much.
5.
HIS TWO GREAT LOVES: MARY AND THE
EUCHARIST. We should stop for a moment
and ask the simple question: how could a human being do so much with so little.
Eating two potatoes a day, confession 14-17 hours a day, sleeping as little as
three hours at night, being tormented at times by the devil in his room,
calumniated by the tavern-owners for closing their sinful practice--- how on
earth could he last beyond a week, dying due to exhaustion or simply going
insane??? The answer is clear and to
the point: his two great loves. The Cure
of Ars intensely loved Jesus and Mary. There is no other explanation for the
ultimate source of his energy, perseverance and strength. His greatest love was the most Blessed
Sacrament and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Mary was his tender and loving
Mother. Jesus was his Lord, God, and Savior and His best of Friends. The unction of the preaching of the Cure of
Ars on the mystery of Mass and the Holy Eucharist could move the hardest of
hearts. Let’s read and learn:
“Without the Holy Eucharist there would be no
happiness in this world; life would be insupportable. When we receive Holy
Communion, we receive our joy and our happiness. The good God, wishing to give
Himself to us in the Sacrament of His love, gave us a great and vast desire,
which He alone can satisfy. In the presence of this beautiful Sacrament, we are
like a person dying of thirst by the side of a river—he would only need to bend
his head; like a person still remaining poor, close to a great treasure—he need
only stretch out his hand. He who communicates loses himself in God like a drop
of water in the ocean. They can never be separated.”
Let us pray fervently to the Cure of
Ars, Saint John Marie Vianney, for priests. May priests be men of deep prayer,
ardent apostolic zeal for the salvation of immortal souls, the greatest of
lovers of Holy Mass, Holy Communion and the Blessed Sacrament and the dearest
and loving sons of Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and the
tender and loving Mother of priests. St.
John Marie Vianney, pray for the Church, the priests and the salvation of the
whole world.
