Pastors’ Day: Feast of St John Vianney

Throughout the Catholic world,  August 4 is celebrated as Pastors’ Day, as it is also the Feast Day of the great Pastor, St. John Mary Vianney, the Patron of Parish Priests.  St. John Mary Vianney was born on 8th May, 1786 near Lyons in France, during the French Revolution. He belonged to a simple peasant family. His mother was a very devout Catholic. As a young boy, John helped his father in the farm. On the occasion of his first Holy Communion, at the age of thirteen, he made up his mind to become a priest.

Young Vianney had serious difficulties with his seminary studies. His failure to understand Latin, the all-important language of the Church, together with problems related with the French Revolution, forced him to discontinue his studies. Never losing sight of priesthood, the dream of his life, he sought to be tutored privately. At last, after a lengthy battle with the books, he was ordained a priest on 9th August, 1815 by Msgr. Simon, the Bishop of Grenoble, who saw in the young lad a model of goodness and personal holiness.

 His first assignment was as an Assistant Priest to Fr. M. Balley of Ecully, who had patiently tutored Vianney during his priestly studies. Fr. Balley   had a great influence on young Vianney. On his death in the year 1818, Fr. Vianney was transferred to Ars, where he worked  as its Parish Priest, for the rest of the 42 years of his life.

His outstanding piety and pastoral work in his parish produced a radical spiritual transformation of the community and its surroundings. In the span of ten years he renewed the life of the entire people of Ars. His fame began to spread far and wide for his extraordinary abilities as a confessor and counsellor. Very soon thousands of people from France and aboard, including bishops and noblemen, started making their way to the tiny village of Ars, in search of advice and spiritual comfort. The number of pilgrims would reach 20,000 a year. During the last ten years of his life, Fr Vianney would spend 16 to 18 hours a day hearing confessions and giving counselling. Finally, on 4th August 1859, he died at the age of 73. The Bishop presided over his funeral with 300 priests and numerous faithful. Hundred and fifty years ago, this could not be imagined.

Today St. John Mary Vianney stands out a role model for priests . The duties and the daily life of a priest are very demanding. The priest is entrusted with the pastoral care of the parishioners. In spite of his busy schedule, the priest finds time to  listen, care and pray his people, encouraging and teaching them the way to heaven and nourishing their soul with the Word of God and with Sacraments.

On the occasion of this Pastors’ Day, let us pray to God to strengthen and empower our priests. We pray that they may be abundantly  blessed and that the joy of the Lord may always remain in their hearts. We also pray that our families may be cradles for vocations to priesthood.