Since we just discussed the Sacrament of Reconciliation and this is the Year of the Priest perhaps it would be interesting to read about St. Jean-Marie Vianney and his efforts to save souls, especially things for the confessional.
"If on my arrival at Ars I had foreseen all I was to suffer there. I should have died on the spot." These words spoken by Jean-Maire Vianney provide some idea of the struggles this priest endured as he worked so hard to save souls.He was born in Dardilly, France, May 8, 1786, and baptized the same day. His parents were faithful Catholics who taught their six children to love and serve the Lord. By the age of fifteen months Jean-Marie had learned to make the sign of the cross before his meals, and by four years of age he regularly followed his mother's habit of "blessing the hour", meaning when the clock struck the hour, he would cross himself and say a Hail Mary.
As he grew older, he said about his love for prayer and the Catholic Church, "After God, I owe it to my mother; she was so good. Virtue passes readily from the heart of a mother into that of her children."
Jean-Marie was drawn to the priesthood, and in spite of difficulties with his studies, especially Latin, he showed such holiness and he was ordained. In 1818 he was appointed Cure' of Ars. He soon discovered that many of his parishioners were a hard-hearted, sinful folk who felt no sorrow for missing Mass, worked in the fields on Sundays, drank to drunkenness, took the Lord's name in vain, and lived impure lives. Those few who came to church were often irreverent, and the children were allowed to stay away from religious instruction.
The young Cure' (pastor) began by visiting all of the households of his parish. Of the devil he said, "That which beats him is the curtailment of one's food, drink, and and sleep," so Jean ate very little and spent a good part of the night praying in his church. Over the years most of the people slowly began to respect their holy priest, who loved them so much, and to follow his teaching.
"Oh, my dear parishioners," he said to them, "let us endeavor to get to heaven...What a pity it would be if some of you were to find yourselves on the other side!"
More and more people began to attend Mass, say the rosary, bless the hours, avoid temptations, examine their consciences, and go to Confession. The Cure' of Ars often spent 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional as even people from neighboring villages sought to make their peace with God and reform their ways.
To win these souls for God, the Cure' fought a very personal battle with Satan. The devil often made loud noises, started fires, shook the parsonage, etc. to torment Jean. Once, using the shape of a woman, he even followed the priest into the confessional. Penitents outside heard him say, "If it were not for the B...(vulgar word for the Blessed Mother), we would have gotten you a long time ago! But she protects you too much, she and that big dragon at the door of the church (St, Michael the Archangel)."
Especially dear to the Cure' of Ars' heart were the Mass and the Blessed Eucharist. He said, "What a joy for a Christian to get up from the Sacred Banquet and go forth with all Heaven in his heart." For the souls "suffering terribly" in Purgatory, he said, "...let us offer to God, through the Holy Sacrifice, His Beloved Son with all the merits of His Death and Passion. He will not be able to refuse us anything."
The beloved Cure' died at Ars on August 4, 1859. He was canonized in 1925 and named the Patron of Parish Priests in 1929.
