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GrzeszDeL
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If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a great number of Christians would go to Heaven.
Today is the feast of St. John Vianney, better known as the Curé d’Ars. Holy John was a farm hand who in his youth taught other children their prayers and catechism. He had felt a calling to the priesthood from his youth. He was finally ordained a priest at the age of 30, though it took several years study as he was not a very good student, and his Latin was terrible.
He was assigned to the parish of Ars, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance; he began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor. He spent days in prayer, doing penance for his parishioners. He was gifted with discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge, but also tormented by evil spirits, especially when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night.
He soon gained a wide reputation for simple wisdom. Thousands came to hear him preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his reputation with penitents. It was said that he spent nearly ten hours a day hearing confessions! Many of his sermons (like the one on frequent communion) are spiritual classics.
Holy John is the patron of Dubuque-IA, Kansas City-KA, and priests. As such, today would be a good day to pray for the many priests who struggle to shepherd their flocks wisely that God will bless them and make them good shepherds. It would also be a fine day to pray for Dubuque and KC.
Holy John Mary Vianney, pray for us!
If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a great number of Christians would go to Heaven.
Today is the feast of St. John Vianney, better known as the Curé d’Ars. Holy John was a farm hand who in his youth taught other children their prayers and catechism. He had felt a calling to the priesthood from his youth. He was finally ordained a priest at the age of 30, though it took several years study as he was not a very good student, and his Latin was terrible.
He was assigned to the parish of Ars, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance; he began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor. He spent days in prayer, doing penance for his parishioners. He was gifted with discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge, but also tormented by evil spirits, especially when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night.
He soon gained a wide reputation for simple wisdom. Thousands came to hear him preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his reputation with penitents. It was said that he spent nearly ten hours a day hearing confessions! Many of his sermons (like the one on frequent communion) are spiritual classics.
Holy John is the patron of Dubuque-IA, Kansas City-KA, and priests. As such, today would be a good day to pray for the many priests who struggle to shepherd their flocks wisely that God will bless them and make them good shepherds. It would also be a fine day to pray for Dubuque and KC.
Holy John Mary Vianney, pray for us!
