The Life & Ministry of St. John Mary Vianney By Xavier James L. S.

JEAN MARIE BAPTISTE VIANNEY by Xavier James L S

“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1Cor.1:27). Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney was one among these!

He was born in a good and pious Catholic family as the fourth son of Mathew and Marie Beluse, in Daridelly, a small village near Lyons in France, on 8^th May 1786. At the time of his birth, due to the French Revolution, the practice of faith had lost its importance in France. Fortunately in his own family and village, people were still deeply religious.

Infancy

His family recited their evening prayers and the Rosary on their knees. He joined them on his knees when he was just 18 months. He thus showed an interest in piety right from his infancy. Since there were no schools, the children used to graze cattle, whilst their parents worked in the fields. Our young Jean too was sent along with his sister Margarite to graze sheep, donkeys and cattle. They would kneel and pray whilst they were grazing the animals, and were looked at with curiosity by other children.

Desire to become a Priest

Fr. M. Groboy remembers that Jean was very diligent boy with good memory. In 1797, when Jean was 11, Fr. Groboy met him at Daridelly, and asked him if he went for Confession. When Jean told him that he did not go for confession, Fr. Grobo sat with Jean to hear his first confession. A year later, Jean received Jesus in Holy Communion for the very first time. In 1802, Jean experienced some inner desire to save many souls by becoming a priest. He related this wish to his mother, who encouraged him and communicated this to the Parish Priest Fr. Charles Balley. The Parish Priest noticed that Jean looked serious about this desire and his motive was selfless too, as he wanted to be a priest for the glory of God and the good of souls.

Obstacles and Struggles

In 1807, Jean received the sacrament of Confirmation, at the hands of his uncle, Cardinal Fesch. His uncle was delighted to learn that wished to become a priest. Jean’s father was not willing to send Jean to the seminary, as he could not afford the expenses, and wanted Jean to help him in their fields. Yet, his father did loose Jean to another cause. Since Napoleon’s army was then short of soldiers, one day they took Jean to their camp for training.

Hospitality

During his training, Jean fell very sick, and was sent for rest. Two ladies took very good care of Jean, who was amazed to receive such hospitality from the ladies. Towards the end of his stay with them, he told them that as soon as he reaches home, he would begin another type of training, this time for the priesthood. So Madam Claudine Fayot gave him a cassock, another old peasant woman sold her pig and gave Jean the money. Many were attracted to Jean for he was a good and holy young man, with an attractive personality.

Studies & Priesthood

Jean returned to Daridelly on 28^th May 1811, when he was 25, he was preparing to go to the Seminary at Lyons. However, his father was not willing to send him, finally when his mother pleaded for Jean, and his father relented and agreed to send him. Once in the seminary, it was observed that Jean had difficulty in studying Latin. Jean was thus sent to Fr. Balley, who went to Lyons and spoke to the professors concerned. They agreed to appoint a new examiner in the person of Fr. Bochard. Fr. Bochard noted that Jean’s answers were accurate and clear, and remarked, “It is not only learned priests that the Church needs but still more devoted priests”. Fr. Balley being  a Canon Lawyer could conduct the exams and train Jean for the priesthood. He found Jean to be hardworking, prayerful and confident. He had much trust in Jean, which also played its part in Jean’s achieving his goal of becoming a priest.

Life of the new priest

 Having completed his studies, Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney was ordained a priest by the local Bishop Simon on 13the August 1815. He celebrated his first Eucharist the following day in the seminary. The new priest was back in Daridelly and was very helpful to his vocation promoter in his ministry. He visited the sick and preached the Word of God. He took a lot of time to prepare his sermons, which were short and clear. He also catechized and baptized but was not allowed to hear confessions. Fr. Balley took the initiative and prepared Jean to appear for the exams. As soon as Jean succeeded in his exams, Fr. Balley was the first person to confess to the new confessor. The two priests ate simple food, some potatoes crusts of bread and on occasion some boiled meat. When Fr. Balley fell ill, Fr. Jean took care of the parish. On17th December 1817 having received the Sacrament of the sick at the hands of the one who humanly speaking owed him his vocation, Fr. Balley breathed his last.

The death of Fr. Balley was a great loss for Fr. Jean, and he felt deeply sad. In the passing away of Fr. Balley, Fr. Jean had lost a father, counselor and above all a great friend. He also remarked, “If I were a painter, I could still do a portrait of him” hence he could say towards the end of his life, “I have encountered some beautiful souls in my life”.

The New Parish Priest of Ars

His Bishop then appointed Fr. Jean to an obscure village named Ars, which was 18 miles from Erully in the diocese of Lyons. Fr. Jean arrived at his new parish of Ars on 8^th February 1818. Receiving his assignment from the Vicar General V.M. Courbon, Fr. Jean was told, “There is no great love of God in the parish and you will enkindle it”. Fr. Jean kept this in mind as he worked in his parish, and was willing to even give his own life so as to save souls. Fr. Jean was generous by nature, a man full of confidence, a pleasure to meet. He attracted people with his smile, and his sense of humour. He had the sound common sense of a peasant. He was sharp in listening to people and ever committed to their service. He never considered himself being above them or their superior.

Self-renunciation & simplicity

The practice of simplicity which Fr. Jean acquired since his early years during his training for the priesthood was lived by him even after becoming a parish priest. His food and dress habits were very simple. He visited families of his parish and wherever he was offered a meal he would refuse giving excuses that he had just had his meal. Once his elder brother Francois came to meet him and found nothing to eat in the presbytery. Finally he managed to dig for some potatoes and managed to satisfy his hunger. When asked by others, Fr. Jean’s answer was, “One does not mind a few discomforts if it is a means of pleasing God”. Once the bishop was visiting the neighbouring parishes and towards the end of his pastoral visit, a dinner was held Fr. Jean was also present with his old cassock, patched boots and unadorned by a sash. One of the priests present passed a comment, “And he is sitting up there with the Bishop without a sash”. One of his colleagues answered, “Even without a sash the cure D’Ars is worth more than many who wear one”. It is good to note that although he wore old clothes, Fr. Jean was always clean and tidy.

Parishioners of Ars

Fr. Jean noticed that number of faithful attending the Eucharist were few. He was very curious to know what was happening. He found people dancing in the clubs nearby instead of attending Sunday mass. When the chapel was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, Fr. Jean inscribed the following words at the bottom of the portrait of St. John the Baptist, “His head was the price of a dance”. Fr. Jean always insisted with people to do the things which were pleasing to God and not the world. Some of the parishioners were angry with him and abused him. One day one of the unmarried young women, living near the presbytery got pregnant. Many started accusing Fr. Jean as being the culprit. Although Fr. Jean was hurt he did not take notice of the abuses, but carried his hurts to God in prayer. He made every effort to bring all the people back to the faith, he prayed to God with words like, “Dear God, I will make every sacrifice I can, I will eat less, sleep less, turn my back on every comfort. I implore you to accept my sacrifices not only as penance for my own sins, but for those of my parishioners too. Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do”. Not only that, he also prayed, “God give me the conversion of my parishioners and for that sake if you want me to suffer for the rest of my life, I don’t mind it” he was truly a loving shepherd.

The ministry of the cure

Fr. Jean was full of zeal and enthusiasm, he carried out his pastoral work with amiability, endless patience and humility, he visited the villages and was available in and around Ars. Always, pleased to be of service he was never put off or put out at any sick call. He built schools for boys and girls between the years 1820-1823. He also founded a home for orphans, homeless and street girls and named it ‘Providence’. It actually existed on the providence of God. This is why once he admired the wonder of God and exclaimed, “God is really good. He looks after the poor”. He used to give medals or rosaries as he passed by people and blessed them. One day, two rich boys came to him asking for medals as he passed a street. Fr. Jean went to one of the shops nearby and bought a packet of medals, blessed them and gave them to the boys. He told the shopkeeper that one of them would pay the bill and walked out with a smile.

Ars is no more Ars

Fr. Jean used to often say that ‘Ars is no more Ars’ because it has changed a lot. In 1830 Ars was completely converted to the faith. Many pilgrims started coming towards Ars, trying to get  a glimpse of the Parish Priest. They wished to hear him preach, catechize, to go to confession to him, to receive his blessing as he passed by, to touch his cassock or his breviary. There was now very little privacy for him. He always welcomed people who came to meet him and attended to them in their needs. Once, one of his friends came to meet him and Fr. Jean said, “I am glad that your good angel inspired you to come to see me”. On another occasion, Miss.Catherine, who was with him for many years remarked, “Elsewhere missionaries sought out sinners but here the sinners seek you out”. To this he would say that he knew nothing but he also said, “Those who are led by the Holy Spirit have the right idea that is why so much ignorant folk know more than men of learning”. He had a lot of compassion towards the sinners. Once it so happened that one man came to the confessional and refused to open up and confess. Seeing this Fr. Jean started weeping in the confessional and the man asked him, “Why are you weeping Father?” Fr. Jean replied, “Because you don’t weep my son”. Sometimes Fr. Jean was tempted to run away from the parish and ask for a transfer. Yet he could not stay for long in other places because of his love for Ars which made him go back to Ars.

Opposition and rejection

Fr. Jean was rejected by his fellow priests and considered insane. Once in a meeting with the bishop, some priests complained that the Parish Priest of Ars was over zealous, ignorant and was behaving like an insane man. Hearing this comment about Fr. Jean, the bishop said, “I wish all my clergy had a touch of the same madness”. Seeing the work load of the Parish Priest, the parishioners of Ars asked the bishop to send a priest to assist Fr. Jean.  Fr. Raymond was sent to help Fr. Jean. Being a young priest he did not like the way things were moving in the parish and he often gave trouble to Fr. Jean and to the people, soon the people rejected him. When the people talked ill of Fr. Raymond, Fr. Jean would defend his co-pastor in the presence of the people. He also pleaded for him with the bishop asking the bishop to reward Fr.Raymond for all the help he rendered whilst at Ars. Later on, Fr. Raymond asked pardon of Fr. Jean and regarded him as a holy and exemplary parish priest.

Teaching of Fr. Jean Marie Vianney

Fr. Jean considered the priesthood as a fulfillment of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At Ars, the Eucharistic celebration would sometimes go on for three hours. He would catechize the people about the soul, heaven and being united with the creator. He sat at the confessional for 10 to 15 hours and had very little rest. He said, “Priests are spiritually weak as long as they do not have the Eucharist as the centre of their life”. As a priest he was a true shepherd with his heart full of zeal, enthusiasm and concern for the people. He observed an old man who came to Church after a hard day’s work and just sat before the Lord. One day Fr. Jean called the old man and asked him, “Everyday I see you coming to the Church, what prayer do you recite?” The old man replied, “Father, I do not know any prayer, I just look at Him and He looks at me and I go back”. Fr. Jean was happily surprised.

Fr. Jean would tell parable in his Sunday sermons, “A pure soul is like a fine pearl. As long as it is hidden in a shell in the depths of the sea, no one thinks of admiring it, but when it is exposed to the light of the day this pearl shines and it attracts attention. It is thus that a pure soul now hidden from the eyes of the world will one day shine before the angels in the light of eternity”.

A holy priest has gone home

Due to the simple food he ate, the little rest he took and the many years of hard work, Fr. Jean became very weak. One day he confessed during his sermon that “I wanted to sleep this morning but I had no hesitation in getting up, the salvation of souls was of the utmost importance”. When sick, he was unable to do any work but was always concerned about the people and the good of souls. In his last days Fr. Toccabier came to assist him and eventually took over as Parish Priest succeeding Fr. Jean after the latter’s death. Fr. Jean was always grateful to all those who helped him in one way or the other in his mission. Even on his sick bed he told them that he was praying for all of them. On 2^nd August 1859 Monday Fr. Jean grew weaker and received the Sacrament of the sick from Fr. Toccabier. Although very weak, Fr. Jean knelt down to receive the Sacrament. He was truly a man of convictions. On 3^rd the bishop came to see him at Ars and at the dawn of 4^th August he rendered his soul to God without any struggle, he was 73 and worked at Ars for 41 long years as the Parish Priest.

Well done good and faithful servant

According to his last wish Fr. Jean was buried at Ars. He was made venerable by Pope Pius IX on 13^th October 1872, Blessed in1905 by Pope Pius X and a saint in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Thereafter he was made the Patron of all the Parish Priest or pastoral clergy. Pope Pius X writes, “God grant that every priest may follow Abbe Vianney’s example. May all parish priests remember his example and imitate that ardent charity which urges us to despise all things even life itself”. Pope Benedict XVI declared the year of the priests in commemoration of the 150^th death anniversary of Vianney and announced him as a patron for all priests in 2009.

In conclusion let us reflect on these words of St. Jean Marie Vianney, “The more one knows men the less one loves them; but with God it is the precise contrary the better He is known the better He is loved. If you take fish out of water it will die, you see so it is with man without God and Anything we do without offering it to God, is wasted”

God made the one who was considered a fool, a useful and wise counselor and spiritual guide, who would guide many people with priests, religious, bishops and cardinals among them. If we take to heart and imitate in our lives the example of the great Saint Jean Marie Vianney, we too one day will be awarded with, “Well done good and faithful servant!”.

Bibliography

AJM Mausolfe JK Mausolfe. (1998). Saint Companions for each day . Mumbai: St. Pauls.

Attwater, D. The Avenel Dictionary of Saints. New York: Avenel Books.

II, P. J. (1986). Encyclical letter on Maundy Thrusday. Vatican: Vatican Press.

Sheppard, L. C. (1963). The Cure d Ars. London: Universe Books Edition.