It is reported that Saint John Marie Vianney heard confessions for up to 12 hours a day. He was born to a farm family on May 8, 1786 in Lyons, France. He was ordained in 1815, but it took many years, as he was not a good student and was terrible in Latin. He visited his parishioners, especially the sick and the poor, and spent days in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He did penance for his parishioners, and he lead by example. He was tormented by evil spirits, especially in the middle of the night, and he only got 2-3 hours of sleep each night. Many flocked to hear him preach and to have their confessions heard by him. By 1855, there were 20,000 pilgrims to Ars. He was a parish priest for 40 years. He is the patron saint of all priests, worldwide. He died on August 4, 1859 in Ars, France of natural causes. He was canonized in 1925.
Twin Fountains of Fruitfulness
Blessed Virgin, pray that God may give to His Church today
many more priests after His own Heart.
Pray for all the priests under Saint John Vianney’s patronage,
that they may be worthy representatives
of Christ the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves
to prayer and penance;
be examples of humility and poverty;
shining models of holiness;
tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;
zealous dispensers of God's grace in the Sacraments.
May their loving devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist
and to you, Mary, His mother
be the Twin Fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.
Amen.
"I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures."
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