St. John Mary Vianney

Born on May 8, 1786 at Dardilly, France from a Christian family of farmers

Ordained a priest in 1815 (in the seminary, his failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue but his vision of being a priest urged him to seek private tutoring and after a lengthy battle with the books, John was ordained)

In 1818 he was made parish priest of Ars, a remote small village, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world.

Universally known as the “Cure of Ars”
His life was one of extreme mortification. Accustomed to the most severe austerities, beleaguered by swarms of penitents, and besieged by the devil, this great mystic manifested an imperturbable patience.

He was a wonderworker loved by the crowds, but he retained a childlike simplicity, and he remains to this day the living image of the priest after the heart of Christ.

Patron of all Parish Priests

He heard confessions of people from all over the world - in the winter months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily and in the summer months 16 to 17 hours.

His life was filled with works of charity and love. It is recorded that even the staunchest of sinners were converted at his mere word.

Died August 4, 1859. Canonized May 31, 1925. Feastday is August 4.

“Look for God’s kindness and you have found happiness,”
such is his message.

Prayer of St. John Vianney