For priests: How to be a good confessor, the example of St. John Vianney
August 4th, Feast of St. John Vianney
The holy Curé of Ars is well recognized as the great apostle of the confessional. Pope Benedict, in declaring the Year for Priests, explicitly presented St. John Vianney as a model for priests in their ministry as confessors.
Much has been said and much is known of how this holy priest spent untold hours (even to sixteen and more hours a day) in the confessional. That he could “read souls” is well attested by testimony even from before his death. It has even been related that the evil one once cried out, “If there were were two priests like John Vianney, my kingdom on earth would crumble!”
And so, we all must pray that the good Jesus would send us more priests like the humble St. John Vianney. The priests as well must implore the Savior for all the many graces necessary for growth as a confessor.
Still, the priests must also imitate the example of St. John Vianney – we priests should be asking ourselves, “How did the Curé become such a good confessor?” This question will lead us back to Monday’s saint: Alphonsus Liguori.
Read More ~ all of Father Ryan Erlenbush's Homily on St. John Vianney, from his blog: The New Theological Movement!
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St. John Vianney on Prayer
Man has a noble task: that of prayer and love. To pray and to love, that is the happiness of man on earth.
Prayer is nothing else than union with God. When the heart is pure and united with God it is consoled and filled with sweetness; it is dazzled by a marvellous light.
In this intimate union, God and the soul are like two pieces of wax moulded into one; they cannot any more be separated. It is a very wonderful thing, this union of God with his insignificant creature; happiness passing all understanding.
Read More ~ all of Father Dwight Longenecker's thoughts on this topic, from his blog: Standing On My Head!
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Saint John Mary Vianney ~ Pray for Us!
