PRAY FOR US

Memorial of St. Jean Marie Vianney, Patron of the Universal Clergy

Mt 9:35-10:1

Today we celebrate the blessed memory of St. John Marie Vianney, Patron Saint of the Universal Clergy.

John Marie Vianney was born near Lyons, France in 1786. He was ordained priest in Grenoble, and was assigned to the parish of Ars, France, where he spent his life in quiet service for forty-two years. He was known for his steadfast care for souls. He would hear confession of countless penitents for almost the whole day. He also had an outstanding spirit of prayer and mortification. His great love for the Eucharist was the source of his strength and holiness. At the age of seventy-six, John Marie Vianney entered the eternal bliss in 1859. Pope Pius XI declared him Patron of the Universal Clergy.

There are three things that St. John Marie Vianney teaches me and my brother priests. First, our love for the Eucharist must be so great. It is the source of our energy, fervor and personal holiness. Second, we must never neglect the Sacrament of Reconciliation. How will the laity love the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we ourselves, ordained ministers of the sacrament, have little love for it? Spending time in the confessional shows our love for this sacrament. How will the laity frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation when they do not find us available to hear their confession? St. John Marie Vianney did not have to be called from the rectory or the parish office to sit in the confessional. He was always there. He practically spent most of his life in the confessional. Third, while our over-staying in our parish assignments can be bad for both us and our parishioners, there are virtues in staying where we have been assigned until the bishops so desire. It demands a lot of humility, obedience, and love of God to remain in an assignment for forty-years as St. John Marie Vianney did. In the midst of the politicking that also happens within clergy as regards assignments, this aspect of our patron’s long service in the parish of Ars seems to be often overlooked.

Today, I beg you to offer a Mass and a rosary for us, your priests. Offer a Mass for us so that we may be true lovers of Christ. Say a rosary for us so that we may be true sons of Mary. May we be the holy priests that God wants us to be. May we be the good shepherds that you deserve.

Pray for us.