St Jean-Baptiste-Marie
Vianney 19th Cent (Cure d’Ars)
Feastday
4th August
Born
1786
Died
1859
Farm
hand who in his youth taught other children their prayers and catechism.
Ordained in 1815, though it took several years study as he had little
education, was not a very good student, and his Latin was terrible. Assigned
for a while to Ecully. 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 poor. Spent days in prayer, doing
penance for his parishioners. Gifted with discernment of spirits, prophecy,
hidden knowledge, and working miracles. Tormented by evil spirits, especially
when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night. Crowds came to hear him
preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his reputation with penitents;
by 1855 there were 20,000 pilgrims a year to Ars. Spent 40 years as the parish
priest.1
1. Taken from the Patron
Saints Index at http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj18.htm
“After
this victory their enemy (the Prussians) shall not quit entirely the occupied
country. They shall come back (for a second invasion of France): but this time
our army shall fight well everywhere. For during the first war our men would
not combat well, but in the second war they will fight. O how they will fight!…”
1
“The
Prussians will allow the burning of Paris and will rejoice in it. But they will
be beaten and driven entirely from France. Our enemies shall return and destroy
everything in their march. They will arrive near Poitiers without serious
resistance but there they will be crushed by the defenders of the West who will
pursue them. In other directions their provisions will be cut off and they
suffer serious losses. They will attempt to flee their country but wont reach
it. All they took from us shall be returned and a great deal more. The communists of Paris after this defeat
will spread throughout France and will multiply. Then they seize arms and
oppress people of order. A civil war breaks out everywhere and these wicked
people become masters in N, E, and SW of France. They imprison many persons and
massacre many. They attempt to kill all priests and religious but this does not
last. People will imagine that all is lost. But the good God will save all. But
God shall save all like a sign of the last judgement. Paris shall be changed,
also two or three other cities; God shall come to help; the good shall triumph
when the return of the king shall be announced. This shall re-establish a peace
and prosperity without example. Religion shall flourish again better than ever
before .Paris shall be demolished and burnt in earnest, but not entirely.
Events shall transpire more terrible than what we have seen. However there
shall be a limit beyond which the destruction shall not go. A Great triumph
will be witnessed on the feast of Our Lady….” 2
“I
believe that the church in England shall return to her ancient splendour…” 3
References
1. Rev R. Gerald.
Culleton The Prophets and Our Times (Tan Books and Publishers 1941) p 98
2. ibid
3. ibid p 99