Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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 8th
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 28th 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 8th 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 2nd
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 3rd the bishop came
to see him at Ars and at the dawn of 4th 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 13th 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 150th 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.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Siddhpur Mission 2012 by Xavier James
Brief History of Siddhpur Mission Parish:
by Xavier James
In
the thirties and forties of last century the few isolated Catholic families
mainly Railway employees of Siddhpur and nurses who served in the hospitals were
ministered to from far away Rajkot, Gujarat.
From 1951 North Gujarat was put under the care of the Cathedral Parish
of Ahmedabad city. From 1966 the present
parish was part of the kalol Mission started by Fr.M.Diaz Garriz sj who was in
charge of Siddhpur from 1964 and pastoral needs were fulfilled by late Fr.
Stephen D’souza sj. Regular Eucharist used to be held in the residence of
Martin Fernandes and John Baptist Braganza who were the famous mechanics of
North Gujarat. There was a Christian cemetery in Siddhpur which was eventually
taken by the Muslims. Many good Christian doctors and nurses had served in
Siddhpur town in the past. The parishioners were going to either Mehsana or
Deesa for Sunday Mass in 1975. In 1998 Palanpur was made a new parish and the
faithful used to go for the Sunday Masses to Palanpur which is thirty five kilometers
away. On 11th November 2002 Ahmedabad was bifurcated and Gandhinagar
was formed a new Archdiocese being the capital of Gujarat. After a decade the
Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes dreamt of a new parish in
Siddhpur. Thus it became a separate mission parish in June 2012, when Fr.
Xavier James was appointed as the first parish priest. The parish covers the civil
Taluka (Tehsil or Block) of Siddhpur at present in Patan District. The present
plot for the Church was bought in the year 2009 at Umru village. This mission
parish continues the work of evangelization among the catholic community of
migrants from Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and other parts of Gujarat in the given
area. The grand children of Martin Fernandes are of great help in their own
way. Mr. Joy Thomas and Mr. Shaji are the oldest catholic migrants in this area
beside John Baptist Braganza. The Catholic Church reaches out its evangelical
mission to the other people of this Taluka. We intend to begin a high school
for this area to provide quality and Christian education which will make known
Christ in these areas. We also need a place of worship since we have the
services in a rented house. We are determined to start Legal Aid and Human
Rights centre in this area. The little daughters of St. Francis Xavier sisters
also help in the progress of the mission.
This mission is the adventure of the Archdiocesan clergy. By God’s grace
we really work for the development of the faith of these communities of this
area. At present we help children and elders in their pastoral needs.
Aim of this Mission
This
mission is for the propagation of faith among backward communities of North
Gujarat, who are educationally and economically backward. The level of education among the communities
is very low, and practically nothing among the girl-child. There is hardly any
interest for education and it is here that we feel that giving them quality
education would help the communities to be educationally, socially and
economically vibrant. The main aim of
the mission is to cultivate a taste for education to backward and marginalized
communities of North Gujarat who are educationally backward. We try to
implement our vision of the Archdiocese in this mission parish i.e “We are
called to experience Jesus Christ and to strive for a liberated society where
His values of love, equality, justice, forgiveness are lived and
nurtured”. We also keep in mind our
mission that is ‘to strive towards a liberated society by proclaiming God’s
love in Christ through witness and loving service to all especially the poor
and the marginalized’. The communities here of different caste groups and are
among the poor and the marginalized of North Gujarat. Hence we opt to work for
these communities generously and willingly. We are ready to take up this
challenge in catering to these communities through God’s grace. We are going to
work and promote Legal Aid and Human Rights in these areas and Fr. Stanny
Jebamalai has agreed to help us with the approval of the local ordinary. May
God guide every step we take.
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Being infectious with generosity ( Pastoral Activities of Siddhpur Mission)
It was a hectic week for me as I had applied for the ‘Ekatrikaran’
i.e our survey numbers of the land are 120 and 129 (half) in Umru village so it
is to be made one survey number. The Tehsildar ( block officer) has the
authority to do this. Prior to this so much of paper work had to be done and
spot inspection to be held and I was part of all these events certainly I
acknowledge the help of Franklin Show and Martin Fernandes. I am happy at last
it is done. Thanks be to God. (21st Oct. 2012)
Being
infectious with generosity (Pastoral Activities of Siddhpur)
As you all know this is a small and new parish so it is good to
hold the community together through fellowship activities. On 4th
August 2012 was the inauguration and blessing of this rented parochial house
and that day we had celebrated the Vianney Sunday Eucharist and we all had
dinner together after ritually blessing the house and boiling and serving milk
to everyone. Ms. Mary Joy played a key role in it. On 8th September,
the Feast of the Nativity of our Lady, we had celebrated Onam the harvest festival.
Mr. Shaji Ms. Susan had prepared Onam meal which bound all of us together as
one family. On 9th September Mr. Shaji had organized a day of
recollection for the parishioners at Unteshwari and it was well attended and we
really appreciate such initiatives from the faithful. On 7th October
was the celebration of the birthday of the Archbishop and Sr. Neeta. All of us
gathered together around the Eucharistic table and then for fellowship
together. We really enjoyed the presence of the Archbishop and Vicar General
among the faithful. On 14th October Mr. Mathew and Thangmma the
owners of this house wanted to give a meal to the elderly people at Sandhya
Vishram in Unteshwari and the whole parish joined them. We would like to note
that all the children were present for this occasion to imbibe the value of
generosity and taking care of the elderly when they grow up. On 21st October was the Mission
Sunday and all the faithful contributed generously for the spread of the Gospel.
Thereafter we had the agape meal just like the early Christians in the first
century. Each family brought one dish of food item prepared from their
abundance and shared with others. It was a joy to be together and reliving the
life of early Christian community. It is possible because the number is small and
the faithful are generous in their support.
(21st Oct. 2012)
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