In honor of “the 150th anniversary of the death of the Holy Curé d'Ars, Jean-Marie Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock”, Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement on March 16, 2009 - Year for Priests would be celebrated starting on June 19, 2009, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, and ending on June 19, 2010. that a
Special Indulgences, valid for the entire duration of the Year for Priests, were granted to priests, and to the faithful in general.
***
Saint Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (May 8, 1786 - August 4, 1859) was a French parish priest who became a Catholic saint and the patron saint of parish priests. He is often referred to, even in English, as the "Curé d'Ars" (the parish priest of the village of Ars). He became famous internationally for his priestly and pastoral work in his parish due to the radical spiritual transformation of the community and its surroundings. Catholics attribute this to his saintly life, mortification, and persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession.
He was the son of a poor farmer in Dardilly, France. He worked as a shepherd and didn't begin his education until he was 20 years old. While an ecclesiastical student he was called for military service, and became a "delinquent conscript" more or less because of illness, and hid to escape Napoleon's police.
He had difficulty learning Latin, and twice failed the examinations required before ordination. He was finally ordained at the age of 30 (1815), but was thought to be so incompetent he was placed under the direction of Fr. Balley, a holy priest in a neighboring village, for further training.
Three years later he was made parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world.
St. John lived an austere life, ate potatoes he boiled, and learned to keep suspended by a rope from the ceiling, so the rats wouldn't get to them. He allowed himself 2 hours of sleep each night and was frequently interrupted by the devil, who assaulted him with deafening noises, insulting conversation, and physical abuse. These diabolical visitations were occasionally witnessed with alarm by the men of the parish, but the pious Cure accepted the attacks as a matter of course and often joked about them.
St. John was given many spiritual gifts, such as the power of healing and the ability to read the hearts of his penitents. It was this latter gift which caused his fame to spread throughout France, and created large crowds seeking guidance from him.
The frail Cure began hearing confessions at 1 o'clock in the morning, and it has been reported that he spent from 13 to 17 hours a day in the cramped confessional.
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. 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.
Vianney had a great devotion to St. Philomena, who was believed to be a Virgin Martyr of the early Church. Jean looked at her as his guardian and erected a chapel and a shrine in honor of the saint. The shrine still stands today. During May 1843, Vianney fell so ill he thought that his life was coming to its end. He asked St. Philomena to cure him and promised to give one hundred masses at her shrine. Twelve days later, Vianney was cured and he attributed his cure to St. Philomena.
Death and Canonization
On August 4, 1859 Jean-Marie Vianney died peacefully at age seventy three. Biographers recorded miracles performed throughout his life, obtaining money for his charities and food for his orphans; he also had supernatural knowledge of the past and future, and could heal the sick, especially children.
His body was exhumed because of his impending beatification, and was found dried and darkened, but perfectly entire.
On October 3, 1874 Blessed Pius IX proclaimed him Venerable; on January 8, 1905, Saint Pius X declared him Blessed and proposed him as a model to the parochial clergy; in the year 1925 Pope Pius XI canonized him, and assigned August 8 as his feast day. This feast was inserted in the General Roman Calendar in 1928 with the rank of Double. The rank was changed to that of Third-Class Feast in 1960, and to an Obligatory Memorial in 1969, when the feast day was moved to the anniversary of the saint's death, August 4.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vianney
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=399
http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/johnv.htm
He was the son of a poor farmer in Dardilly, France. He worked as a shepherd and didn't begin his education until he was 20 years old. While an ecclesiastical student he was called for military service, and became a "delinquent conscript" more or less because of illness, and hid to escape Napoleon's police.
He had difficulty learning Latin, and twice failed the examinations required before ordination. He was finally ordained at the age of 30 (1815), but was thought to be so incompetent he was placed under the direction of Fr. Balley, a holy priest in a neighboring village, for further training.
Three years later he was made parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world.
St. John lived an austere life, ate potatoes he boiled, and learned to keep suspended by a rope from the ceiling, so the rats wouldn't get to them. He allowed himself 2 hours of sleep each night and was frequently interrupted by the devil, who assaulted him with deafening noises, insulting conversation, and physical abuse. These diabolical visitations were occasionally witnessed with alarm by the men of the parish, but the pious Cure accepted the attacks as a matter of course and often joked about them.
St. John was given many spiritual gifts, such as the power of healing and the ability to read the hearts of his penitents. It was this latter gift which caused his fame to spread throughout France, and created large crowds seeking guidance from him.
The frail Cure began hearing confessions at 1 o'clock in the morning, and it has been reported that he spent from 13 to 17 hours a day in the cramped confessional.
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. 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.
Vianney had a great devotion to St. Philomena, who was believed to be a Virgin Martyr of the early Church. Jean looked at her as his guardian and erected a chapel and a shrine in honor of the saint. The shrine still stands today. During May 1843, Vianney fell so ill he thought that his life was coming to its end. He asked St. Philomena to cure him and promised to give one hundred masses at her shrine. Twelve days later, Vianney was cured and he attributed his cure to St. Philomena.
Death and Canonization
On August 4, 1859 Jean-Marie Vianney died peacefully at age seventy three. Biographers recorded miracles performed throughout his life, obtaining money for his charities and food for his orphans; he also had supernatural knowledge of the past and future, and could heal the sick, especially children.
His body was exhumed because of his impending beatification, and was found dried and darkened, but perfectly entire.On October 3, 1874 Blessed Pius IX proclaimed him Venerable; on January 8, 1905, Saint Pius X declared him Blessed and proposed him as a model to the parochial clergy; in the year 1925 Pope Pius XI canonized him, and assigned August 8 as his feast day. This feast was inserted in the General Roman Calendar in 1928 with the rank of Double. The rank was changed to that of Third-Class Feast in 1960, and to an Obligatory Memorial in 1969, when the feast day was moved to the anniversary of the saint's death, August 4.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vianney
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=399
http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/johnv.htm
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