| Home | |
St.
John Vianney
Feast Day: August 4
John Vianney was born a peasant
in Dardilly, France, in 1786. As a youth, John shepherded sheep on his
father’s farm. Then, in 1809, the French government drafted him
into its army to fight a war.
Afterward, John went to the seminary to become a priest. But Latin was
so difficult for him to learn that he almost failed his studies. However,
the bishop, seeing John’s goodness, went ahead and ordained him
in 1815.
Soon John became the parish priest, or curé, in Ars, France. He
had no gift for learning. But he did have the gift of understanding what
was in people’s hearts and minds. That made him a wonderful confessor!
So people from all over France came to Ars and asked John to hear their
confession. Sometimes he spent as many as 16 hours listening to people
confess their sins. Through John, God’s mercy and love came to these
people.
Next, John began a home and school for deserted and orphaned children.
(Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet helped him do this.) So, God’s
mercy and love came to children through John too.
For 41 years, John served the tiny parish of Ars. Then on August 4, 1859,
at the age of 73, he died. Throughout France, people knew the Curé
d’Ars as a holy man. He had little learning, but he had much love.
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
Grade 4, chapter 14
