We celebrate John Vianney today. Born in 1786, just a few years before the start of the French Revolution, John Vianney experienced many obstacles in following his faith and becoming a priest. He had very little formal schooling and struggled through his seminary studies, barely receiving a passing grade. He was put in a parish in a rural area of France, where the Bishop thought he would do the least harm, since he seemed so ill equipped for the priesthood. When he arrived at his parish, the people were very indifferent to following the practices of the faith. Through fasting and prayer, he endured these obstacles that faced him and grew in his abilities and wisdom. He became well-known for his preaching, for his compassion and zeal as a confessor, and for his wisdom as a spiritual director. As his reputation grew, more than 300 people visited him each day from all over France to hear him preach and to go to the sacrament of reconciliation with him.
He died in 1859 and was canonized a saint in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, who made John Vianney the patron saint of parish priests in 1929. Pope John Paul II visited the French village of Ars in 1986 in connection with the 200th anniversary of John Vianney’s birth, calling him “a sign of courage for those who today experience the grace of being called to the priesthood.” On the 150th anniversary of his death, Pope Benedict XVI declared the Year of the Priest. On the 160th anniversary of John Vianney’s death, Pope Francis wrote a letter to his priests. Pope Francis commended the “countless priests (who) make of their lives a work of mercy in areas or situations that are often hostile, isolated or ignored, even at the risk of their lives.” To persevere in the priesthood, Pope Francis called his priests to the virtue of gratitude, stating: “Only if we are able to contemplate and feel genuine gratitude for all those ways we have experienced God’s love, generosity, solidarity and trust, as well as his forgiveness, patience, forbearance and compassion, will we allow the Spirit to grant us the freshness that can renew our life and mission.” This is good advice not only for priests, but for all the faithful. We all need models of faith. The faith of St John Vianney calls out to all of us today.
The prophet Jeremiah offers a brutally honest message of divine healing and restoration in our first reading today. This message contrasts the raw reality of profound suffering of the people with their seemingly incurable wounds. God gives a promise of restoration to his people, vowing to heal their brokenness and to draw them closer to him. God’s love and mercy are greater than any human betrayal and transgressions. God will rebuild his people from the ruins. God always seeks out the lost. He promises to heal those who seem incurable. He will reconcile his people to himself.
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