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VEYO Patron Saints
ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY
Born: 1786
Died: August 4, 1859
Canonized: 1925
Feast Day: August 4th
Patron of: Confessors and parish priests
Born at Dardilly, near Lyons, France on May 8th, 1786, John was a simple farmhand who in his youth taught children their prayers and catechism. Though he was of average intelligence and his knowledge was extremely limited being confined to a little arithmetic, history, and geography. He found learning, especially the study of Latin, excessively difficult, but his masters never seemed to have doubted his vocation. He was ordained in 1815 after several years of great effort to complete his studies. In 1818 he was assigned to the parish of Ars, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance. He began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and the poor, and spent long hours in prayer doing penance for his spiritual children. He was gifted with great discernment of spirits, with prophecy, hidden knowledge and working miracles. During the very few hours of sleep he allowed himself every night, he was tormented by evil spirits. All the while, his chief labour was the direction of souls which earned him the reputation, far beyond his own village, as the famous Curé d'Ars, the wise, dedicated and tireless pastor of souls. People began coming to him from other parishes, then from distant places, then from all parts of France, and finally from other countries. They came to hear him preach and to make their confession. By 1855 there were over 20,000 pilgrims a year coming to Ars. In 1859, after 40 years as parish priest, this faithful servant was called home to enter the joy of the Lord only to become, from then on to this day, the patron of all pastors who have been entrusted with the care of souls.
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