St. John Mary Vianney (1786-1859), known throughout the world as the Cure of Ars, is one of the most impressive and luminous figures of the Catholic priesthood. His life was a total dedication to God and to the faithful, a vocation lived with humility, sacrifice and ardent love for souls.
He was proclaimed patron of parish priests and of all priests of the world, not because of his intellectual gifts or great human feats, but because of the depth of his holiness, his pastoral fervor and his heroic fidelity to his ministry.
At the CARF Foundation, which promotes the formation of future diocesan priests around the world, his figure is a source of continuous inspiration. What makes this simple village priest a universal example? We tell you about it below.
John Mary Vianney was born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, a small village in the south of France, into a deeply Christian peasant family. His childhood was marked by the French Revolution.This was a period when religious practice was persecuted and many priests celebrated Mass clandestinely.
From a very young age, Juan María showed a special love for the EucharistHe was a great admirer of priests who, at the risk of their lives, continued to exercise their ministry. He attended Mass in hidden places, accompanied by his mother, and deeply admired the priests who, at the risk of their lives, continued to exercise their ministry. That priestly courage sowed in him a seed that would germinate in the form of a vocation.
At the age of 20, Juan María clearly felt the call to the priesthood, but his path was not an easy one. His poor previous formation and his difficulties with Latin made many consider his entrance into the seminary unfeasible. However, with the help of Abbé M. Balley, parish priest of Écully, he managed to prepare himself and was ordained a priest in 1815, at the age of 29, through sheer perseverance and faith.
He was never brilliant in academics, but he was brilliant in virtue, obedience and pastoral zeal. At his final examination, a superior said of him: "He doesn't know much, but he is pious; we leave him in God's hands. This man 'without great lights' would later become a beacon of conversion for thousands of people.
In 1818 he was sent as parish priest to Ars, a tiny, forgotten village in the south of France. It had only 230 inhabitants, most of them far from religious practice. Many priests considered these destinations as a punishment. Juan María, however, saw it as a mission field.
He began his pastoral work with a life of penance and prayer. He fasted frequently, spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament and dedicated all his time to the faithful. His humility, closeness and dedication gradually won the hearts of the people of Ars.
His simple but profound preaching, his love for the poor and his zeal for the salvation of souls caused the town to begin to transform. What seemed like a forgotten corner of France became a spiritual center to which thousands of people flocked.
If there is one thing that characterizes the holy Curé of Ars, it is his tireless ministry at the confessional. He spent between 12 and 18 hours a day hearing confessions, especially in the last years of his life. Pilgrims from all over France and other countries came to Ars, seeking reconciliation with God.
It is estimated that, during peak years, more than 80,000 people per year were coming to Ars. The reason was simple: John Mary Vianney had a special gift for reading hearts, counseling with tenderness and showing God's mercy. He was an instrument of the Holy Spirit to heal souls.
Confession was not for him a mere sacramental practice, but the place where God's love was poured out on his children. His life in the confessional was his daily martyrdom, and also his source of joy.
St. John Mary Vianney lived with extreme austerity. He slept little, fed himself with the bare necessities and deprived himself of every comfort. He offered everything for the conversion of sinners. His room was so simple that many were surprised when they visited it.
But his real wealth was charity. He founded the ProvidenceShe was the head of an orphanage for girls without resources, and she devoted herself to caring for the most needy. Her love was concrete, full of small and constant gestures.
Despite his growing fame, he never became conceited. In fact, he asked several times to be transferred to another parish farther away, because he considered himself unworthy of his mission. His superiors always denied him this wish, aware of the immense good he was doing in Ars.
Like all great saints, St. John Mary Vianney was subject to temptations and furious attacks by the devil. For years he suffered preternatural phenomena in his house: noises, screams, furniture that moved by itself, fires... The devil tried to frighten him and keep him from his mission. Far from being frightened, he offered everything for the conversion of sinners.
He used to say humorously: "The devil and I are almost friends, because we see each other every day". His spiritual strength was the fruit of a life deeply united to God.
On August 4, 1859, after 41 years as pastor of Ars, St. John Mary Vianney died. serenely, surrounded by the affection of his people. He was 73 years old. He went to beatified in 1905 and canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, who proclaimed him patron of parish priests. In 2009, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his death, Pope Benedict XVI declared him the patron saint of all priests throughout the world..
His incorrupt body can be venerated today in the shrine of Ars, which continues to receive pilgrims from all over the world. His figure remains a light for the Church and especially for priests.
In a world that sometimes loses sight of what is essential, the figure of the holy Curé of Ars reminds priests of their true identity: to be men of God for othersinstruments of his mercy, shepherds with the smell of sheep, as Pope Francis said.
In the CARF Foundation, which supports the formation of seminarians and priests on the five continents, the life of St. John Mary Vianney serves as a model and stimulus, as does that of St. Josemaría, who drew much inspiration from him, even naming him Patron of Opus Dei.
Many young people today - like him in his time - find it difficult to be formed, lack resources or live their vocation in adverse environments. Our task is to help them, like the Curé of Ars, to become holy priests.
The feast of St. John Mary Vianney is celebrated on August 4. And, as we mentioned above, the feast of St. John Mary Vianney is celebrated on August 4, St. Josemaría always turned with faith to the intercession of the Curé of Ars, patron of the secular clergy.
His first trip to the city of Ars (France), to visit the places where St. John Mary Vianney carried out his pastoral work and to pray before his remains, was in 1953. After that, he returned on numerous occasions. Always accompanied by Don Alvaro del Portillo, he returned in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960. St. Josemaría always had faith in his intercession and emphasized his priestly traits.
St. Josemaría, referring to the dedication of priests to the sacrament of PenanceHe said to them: "Sit in the confessional every day, or at least two or three times a week, waiting there for the souls as the fisherman waits for the fish.
At first, perhaps no one will come. Take with you the breviary, a book of spiritual reading or something to meditate on. In the first few days you will be able to; then a little old lady will come and you will teach her that it is not enough for her to be good, she must bring her little grandchildren with her.
After four or five days, two little girls will come, and then a boy, and then a man, a little on the sly.... At the end of two months they will not let you live, nor will you be able to pray anything in the confessional, because your anointed hands will be, like those of Christ - confused with them, because you are Christ - saying: I absolve you".
St. John Mary Vianney was neither a great theologian nor an ecclesial reformer. He was, quite simply, a priest faithful to his vocationa man in love with Christ and souls. His life teaches us that holiness is not reserved for the wise or the strong, but for those who trust in God and give themselves without reserve.
His witness is still relevant and necessary. In every seminarian who is trained with the help of the CARF Foundation there is a possibility that a new Curé of Ars will emerge. Because what the world needs is not only good professionals, but also a new Cure of Ars. holy priests.
Would you like more priests like St. John Mary Vianney to bring the Gospel and the faith to all the dioceses of the world?
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