Great Men of the Church

by Donald R. Fantz

Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney was born at Dardilly, near Lyons, France, on May 8, 1786. His parents were farmers who worked hard on the land to make a living for themselves and their six children. Theirs was a busy, peaceful, country life. During this time of history ominous events associated with the Revolution were taking place in France. Decrees were issued which suppressed monasteries and forbade religious to take their holy vows. It was on November 26, 1790, that the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was enacted, which required all priests to deny the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Priests were gradually pressured to swear by this oath to cut themselves off from the Church and to preach on such issues as "constitution," "civ-ism," and "citizenry." Little by little rural families such as the Vianneys found themselves attending Masses in their parish churches, which were aimed at making them revolutionaries.

One day a relative from the nearby village of Ecully was visiting the Vianneys. "What are you doing," she exclaimed, "all good priests have refused the oath, and in consequence are being hunted and persecuted and driven into exile. Happily at Ecully we still have some good priests. It is to these you must go. By taking the oath your parish priest has separated himself from the Catholic Church; he is not your true shepherd and you cannot make yourselves his abettors." From this time on, we are told, little Jean-Marie "showed his horror of sin" and began to avoid his parish priest. The family began to travel out of their village to assist at Mass offered by a courageous priest who had a price on his head. Occasionally, a priest would come to their home to offer the Holy Sacrifice, hear confessions, and witness marriages. The priest would place the altar stone on a table in the comer of a room, take out the Missal, chalice, and several small altar breads. He donned the wrinkled vestments and began the prayers of the Liturgy. What fervor there was in his voice! It was like being at Mass in the Roman Catacombs. These were unforgettable moments for little Vianney, moments in which he may have felt the first call to the priesthood. The terrible fate of many of these people is still remembered in tales that are told of the blood of good people flowing through the streets of the cities and provinces of France.

On November 9, 1799, General Bonaparte took control of the country, bringing about the liberation of the Church. Faithful priests were again allowed to say Mass publicly. During this time young Jean-Marie worked as a shepherd in his father's fields. He was known for his good humor and deep piety. His fondness for his family and his great love for the Mother of God impressed all who knew him. Because of the political turmoil and his work on the farm, he was unable to receive a proper education.

By the time he had reached twelve years of age he had developed a keen interest in becoming a priest. For seven years his father opposed this move, as he felt that Jean-Marie was needed at home. The boy's Aunt Marguerite prevailed upon Mr. Vianney and finally won his permission for the young man to receive training from the parish priest of Ecully, Father Charles Balley.

At the age of twenty, Vianney took up residence in his aunt's home in Ecully. Although regarded by many as saintly even at this age, his family was well aware of his tendency to show a quick temper. Jean-Marie did all in his power to control this tendency by concentrating his energies on the virtue of charity. He sometimes brought back to his aunt's home all the beggars he met along the road. One day he walked over to Dardilly to see his parents. On the way he met a beggar to whom he gave the new shoes his father had bought for him. He thought they were his personal property. He was sharply reprimanded on reaching home barefooted. Soon after, as he was passing a poor woman and her small children, he was so moved to pity that he gave her seven francs, which was all the money he had with him.

Studies for the young man were a source of great discouragement. Through no fault of his, his intellect had been too long permitted to lie dormant. He found that his ability to memorize facts was greatly impaired. Nonetheless, his sense of balance and spiritual insight was magnificent, his application was persistent. His tutor, Father Balley, told him that his progress was poor. In order to better succeed and to bring his lower nature into subjection he began to pray harder and to fast. The severity of his fasting took its toll on his health to the point that Father Balley said to him: "See, my child, we must indeed pray much and do penance, but it is likewise a duty to take food and not to ruin one's health."

Jean-Marie's spirit of determination was amazing. He struggled through Latin. In philosophy he earned the title, "exceedingly poor student." He was laughed at in class by students many years his junior. A lesser man would have given up. Through it all, God was allowing him to be exercised in the virtues most necessary in later years for gaining souls—humility and perseverance. Even though he did not retain technical knowledge of majors and minors in the study of logic, he was blessed with abundant practical common sense and sound judgement. To quote the words of Jacapone da Todi, ". . .a simple and pure mind finds itself in the presence of God. . . ." At the end of his first year of philosophy his first report card showed him to be good in application, conduct, and character, but very weak in general knowledge.

Six months later he was dismissed by his superiors from the Grand Seminaire at Lyons because of lack of knowledge. This was the bitterest trial of his life. He had put more energy and toil to attain his desired goal than any of his companions, yet he had failed. He turned back to the house of his friend, Father Balley, who encouraged him by continuing to tutor and drill him for the final examinations. When the time came for these exams, and young Vianney faced his examiners, he became so confused that he did not even understand the questions put to him. Again, he was dismissed, but with the stipulation that if another bishop would accept him he was free to be ordained. Father Balley again came to his rescue by gaining the sympathetic ear of the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Lyons, Father Courbon. A second examination was arranged in more relaxed surroundings. This time Jean-Marie gave a good account of himself and was given permission to receive major orders. In the words of Father Courbon, "The Church is in need not only of learned priests, she wants, above all, holy priests." Vianney was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on August 13, 1815, by the Bishop of Grenoble, Msgr. Simon. Later that day Jean-Marie exclaimed, "Oh! how great is the priest. The priest will only be understood in Heaven. Were he understood on earth. people would die, not of fear, but of love." He celebrated his first Mass at Grenoble on August 14, returning to Ecully as assistant to Father Balley. His warmth and generosity soon won the hearts of the parishioners of Ecully. The Bishop conferred faculties for the Sacrament of Penance several months later and from that time he found that he was besieged with requests from penitents to hear their confessions. His exhortations to lead moral lives were based only on what he himself practiced. His reserve, simplicity, and kindness were admirable. He prayed and mortified himself so as to subdue his flesh. In this connection he made a vow to recite daily the ''Regina Coeli" and six times the ejaculation: "Blessed be forever the most holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God! Amen."

In December of 1817, Father Balley's health deteriorated. He died with the assistance of the last Sacraments, administered by Father Vianney. The Abbé Vianney wept for the older priest as for a father. "I have seen beautiful souls, " he exclaimed, "but none so beautiful." After Father Balley's death the young Vianney was assigned the post of pastor of the small village of Ars. This isolated outpost was considered by the clergy to be a "Siberia" since the area was impoverished and the faith of the people quite lax. The young priest was admonished by his Vicar-General, "There is not much love for God in that parish; you will bring some into it."

On his arrival there the young priest found Ars to be truly desolate, physically and spiritually. In recent years an apostate priest had lived here. Some of the inhabitants had gone so far as to actually worship the "goddess of reason" revered by the fomenters of the French Revolution. Young people were ignorant of their religion and older people no longer attended Mass. The apathy and inertia of the villagers was joined to a great love of sinful amusements. The young curate began his stay by living even more simply than the townspeople. He gave away his meager possessions to the poorest of the poor. He visited each home and became acquainted with every family member. He showed an interest in their work and assisted them in the raising of their crops. Slowly, he introduced to them the knowledge of their Religion. For example, he often visited a group of women who had come together to sew and spin. He held catechism classes for their children. Soon the women themselves became interested in his lessons and became influential in bringing back a sense of morality to the village. Father Vianney was noted for his genuine love of his parishioners; he was also noted for calling a spade a spade. It took him twenty-five years to convince parents that they were harming their children by allowing sinful entertainments to take place in their homes. At first he found a resistance to his words. He discovered that the more he mortified himself, the greater was his success in winning souls. One day he remarked to a young visiting priest, "My friend, the devil is not greatly afraid of instruments of penance. That which beats him is the curtailment of one's food, drink, and sleep. There is nothing the devil fears more, consequently, nothing is more pleasing to God." The young Curé spared no words in telling the people of their vices. He immediately showed them that Hell would be their lot if they pursued such lives. At the same time he encouraged them to "come to the foot of the Cross; come to the good God who loves you so." His words made it plain to parents that they had the responsibility to raise their children for Heaven. They must combine love and affection with severity. When he first arrived at Ars, he spoke to a group of mothers concerning modesty, "...that mother who can think of nothing but her daughter. She is far more concerned whether her bonnet is put on properly than whether the child has given her heart to God. She beseeches her daughter not to be unsociable—to be gracious to everybody so as to form acquaintances and eventually to 'get off.' Soon the girl's one aim will be to attract. Her extravagant and indecent dress proclaims her to be a tool by means of which Hell seeks the ruin of souls. Only at the judgement-seat of God will such a one know the number of crimes of which she has been the cause." Eventually the Curé helped found a school for homeless girls, "Providence." It became famous as a Catholic institution and was called by Pope St. Pius X a "model of popular education."

Almighty and merciful God, who made St. Jean-Marie glorious by priestly zeal, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession, we may have strength to win for Christ the souls of our brethren and, with them, attain everlasting glory.

As time went on the people of Ars grew in their respect and love of their priest. The village became transformed into a model of Catholic life. The fame of the curate grew so that penitents came from long distances to confess to him. The Curé soon found that he was obliged to spend longer hours in the confessional. The advice he gave and the graces he won for these souls doubled and redoubled, so that soon Ars became a center of religious conversion. Satan was most interested in this, for the curate spent many a sleepless night in harrassment, which can only be described as diabolic. Religious pictures were smashed, screams and profanities were accompanied by loud, pounding noises. Several times the priest was awakened and dragged across his bedroom floor by unseen hands. It always happened that the more violent the attacks, the greater the conversions of souls the following day. At first, the Saint was terrified by these demonstrations. He soon learned that he had only to make the Sign of the Cross and the devil would vanish.

The devotion of Vianney for souls kept him at prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for long hours. He scarcely ate at all, and then only enough to sustain his strength. As time progressed, the Curé spent from sixteen to eighteen hours a day in hearing confessions. The devout came from all parts of Europe to receive advice and graces at his hands. He was able to tell them their most secret thoughts and sins and to comfort them in their trials. He arose each morning shortly after midnight and made his way to the Chapel, where he heard confessions until 6 a.m. He then made his preparation for Holy Mass. His recollection and abandonment to God during Mass were so apparent that they moved hardened sinners to repentance. After Mass he recited his breviary. It was often said by pilgrims to Ars that the sight of the Curé praying the Divine Office was sufficient to inspire them with supernatural graces. Later each day he gave catechism lessons, directed primarily to the children. These "catechisms," given in such simple language, were soon attended by hundreds of bishops, priests, parents, and children who crowded the Church. After these lessons the Curé ate a sparse lunch, taken while standing up. He then returned to the Church to hear confessions and bless the sick, retiring for the night at about 8 p.m.

The  last years of his life were spent in great physical and mental sufferings, of which he rarely made mention. He grieved that he had done so little to prepare himself for Heaven, yet his confessor said of him that he was convinced that the Curé had never committed even one deliberate venial sin. He exhausted himself for souls. Even on his deathbed he allowed penitents to come to his room to receive his blessing. He died after receiving Holy Viaticum, on August 4, 1859, at the age of seventy-three years. While his body was being prepared for burial, it was discovered that he had practiced great bodily penances. His fame as a saint spread quickly throughout the world. Pope St. Pius X proposed him as a model to priests. Pope Pius XI canonized him in 1925.

Today, we see many souls lost in a world which knows not how to give them peace. We see priests embracing the maxims of this world, forgetting their sublime vocation. Let us pray to St. John Vianney, that through his intercession, these priests will rediscover the virtues of humility, simplicity, and poverty. Let us ask him to show them once again the inestimable value of the Sacrament of Penance and the fruits of the Sacred Passion of Jesus Christ, redistributed to all who are willing to accept them in each Holy Mass.

It is the privilege of this writer to have a collection of the "catechisms" of the Curé d'Ars. It seems appropriate to quote his catechism on the Priesthood.

St. Bernard tells us that everything has come to us through Mary; and we may also say that everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed Him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest—always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest. You cannot recall one single blessing from God without finding, side by side with this recollection, the image of the priest.

Go to confession to the Blessed Virgin, or to an angel; will they absolve you? No. Will they give you the Body and Blood of Our Lord? No. The Holy Virgin cannot make her Divine Son descend into the Host. You might have two hundred angels there, but they could not absolve you. A priest, however simple he may be, can do it; he can say to you, "Go in peace; I pardon you." Oh, how great is a priest! The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love. The other benefits of God would be of no avail to us without the priest. What would be the use of a house full of gold, if you had nobody to open the door! The priest has the key of the heavenly treasures; it is he who opens the door; he is the steward of the good God, the distributor of His wealth. Without the priest, the Death and Passion of Our Lord would be of no avail. Look at the heathens: what has it availed them that Our Lord has died? Alas! they can have no share in the blessings of redemption, while they have no priests to apply His Blood to their souls!

The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you. After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts. If the Missionary Father and I were to go away, you would say, "What can we do in this church? there is no Mass; Our Lord is no longer there. we may as well pray at home." When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.

When the bell calls you to church, if you were asked, "Where are you going?" you might answer, "I am going to feed my soul." If some one were to ask you, pointing to the tabernacle, "What is that golden door?" "That is our storehouse, where the true Food of our souls is kept." "Who has the key? Who lays in the provisions? Who makes ready the feast, and who serves the table?" "The priest." "And what is the Food?" "The precious Body and Blood of Our Lord." O God! O God! how Thou hast loved us!....See the power of the priest; out of a piece of bread the word of a priest makes a God. It is more than creating the world... Some one said, "Does St. Philomena, then, obey the Curé of Ars?" Indeed, she may well obey him, since God obeys him.

If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I should salute the priest before I saluted the angel. The latter is the friend of God; but the priest holds his place. St. Teresa kissed the ground where a priest had passed. When you see a priest, you should say, "There is he who made me a child of God, and opened heaven to me by holy Baptism; he who purified me after I had sinned; who gives nourishment to my soul." At the sight of a church tower, you may say, "What is there in that place? The Body of Our Lord. Why is He there? Because a priest has been there, and has said holy Mass."

What joy did the Apostles feel after the Resurrection of Our Lord, at seeing the Master whom they had loved so much! The priest must feel the same joy, at seeing Our Lord whom he holds in his hands. Great value is attached to objects which have been laid in the drinking-cup of the Blessed Virgin and of the Child Jesus, at Loretto. But the fingers of the priest, that have touched the adorable Flesh of Jesus Christ, that have been plunged into the chalice which contained His Blood, into the pyx where His Body has lain, are they not still more precious? The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of Our Lord Jesus Christ.