June 14, St. Jean de Brebeuf

Saint Jean de Brebeuf

By Tasha Benevides

St. Jean de Brebeuf  was born in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France; on March 25^th 1593. Physically Brébeuf was said to have been large in body, tall and husky, and noticeably strong. His character was that of a gentle man, he was charismatic, warm and inviting. St. Brebeuf studied and expanded his knowledge of his faith at home in France. St. Jean entered the Jesuits after he finished his university studies. By his own request de Brebeuf, asked to be admitted as a brother, but his superior convinced him to rise higher and study to become a priest. De Brebeuf taught at a secondary school-level college in Rouen. It was at this time when he was ordained a priest on Feb. 19, 1622. That same year he became the treasurer of the college in which he spread the word of God.

In 1625 St. Jean de Brebeuf set sail to Canada to preform and act as a missionary. He arrived on June 19 and lived near Lake Huron amongst natives. While de Brebeuf spent his time with the people of Huron he adapted to their culture and learned their language, customs, and ways of life. De Brebeuf fought relentlessly to spread the word and the love of God to populations across Canada. In his first year of trying to convert the natives in 1635 he was able only to convert 14 individuals.  However, in just one year his number increased to 86 conversations.  After other failed attempts to convert small groups, de Brebeuf ventured to Québec where he stayed for three years.  After some time went by, St Jean de Brebeuf felt in his heart that the people of the Heron were ready to embrace the love of God and returned to them once again preaching the true words of Jesus Christ.  In 1647 de Brebeuf saw true success when the number of his conversations came in masses; thousands were reported to be converted.

A war was steadily at hand between Native American tribes. By 1647 the Iroquois tribe attacked the Heron, capturing and overpowering various villages, one in which de Brebeuf occupied.  He was captured by the Iroquois, along with his fellow Jesuit, Gabriel Lalemant. They were tortured and killed in a horrendous fashion. Brebeuf was fastened to a stake and was scalped. He endured mock baptism in which his assailants used boiling water; he was subjected to fire and was firthur tortured by having necklaces made of burning hot hatchets placed on him and used to mutilate him. The story of his courage is one yet to be surpassed; it is told and admired not only by the Heron tribe, but as well as the Iroquois, the very tribe who condemned him to death.  The remains of this brave, virtuous man lie within Saint Joseph’s Church in Ontario, Canada.

Brébeuf was canonized in 1930; he is known as a patron saint of Canada. In the United States we celebrate his life and generous contributions to our Faith on October 19^th, however in Canada it is celebrated September 26^th.  Brebeuf leaves behind an immense amount of schools, universities and other institutions inspired by his life’s work: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal; Brébeuf College School in Toronto; Brebeuf High School in Indianapolis, Indiana; St. John de Brebeuf Catholic High School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada; and Eglise St-Jean de Brebeuf in Sudbury, Ontario are only some of the institutions named after him.

Very little was known about de Brebeuf’s early years. What he is best known for is his impeccable courage and will to spread the message of God to others. He was educated, motivated, and could map out the way to the gates of Heaven better than any missionary of this time.  With his powerful words and convincing tones he didn’t just convert people of various denominations to Catholicism but he changed their lives.

St. Jean de Brebeuf was killed by the Iroquois who, upon killing their enemies would eat their heart with the belief that they would receive the same good qualities as the one they had killed. Similar to today’s society, the heart was seen as the center of the person’s being. After killing de Brebeuf, they consumed his heart in hopes of obtaining the same courage that he had. It is a powerful notion to be recognized that your enemy will go to such lengths just have the same will, the same power and the same bravery as you once did. What the Iroquois did not understand however was that this bravery and courage was not a matter of the heart or mind, it was the sheer matter of faith in our God.  The men who condemned St Jean and his fellow Jesuit will never obtain the courage it took to walk down a path such as Brebeuf did, simply because they do not have a true love of God in their hearts.

The greatest contribution St. Jean has left behind on this earth is not only the conversion of thousands to the true Faith but his story of bravery, and how much of an example he is to Catholics everywhere. This man was a gift from God to the people of Heron, to the people of the Iroquois, to the people of then, and to the people of now. As Catholics we always ask ourselves if we are truly listening to what it is God is asking of us, and if we are willing to do what God wants of us. In our hearts we say of course, we are instruments of the Lord but in our mind are we fully ready to physically carry out the will of God? It is a beautiful thing to believe that we would allow our faith to embody us whole, in any situation. I know personally in reading this biography of St. Jean it made me think of what lengths I would go to defend our God, to spread his love, and to protect his sacred Name. I know I’m not half the person St. Jean was; my faith would not match up to the caliber of his. After studying about him I firmly believe any Catholic would be moved and undeniably touched by his amazing faith. I do not know if I would have to same courage to live out my Faith as he did, even to the point of torture and death. Every night I say one Our Father, and two Hail Mary’s. The last Hail Mary I say is dedicated to my Godchild Adrianna. I pray that I can be the Catholic model she will need as she grows older; I pray that I will become as close to God as humanly possible and that my Adrianna will see me as an example. I have prayed for her since the day she was conceived. Because of this prayer, I have a love for that child that is unable to be comprehended through words or through text. I am sure it is through God that this love has grown. Now every day not only will I pray for my godchild, but I will pray to become more and more like St. Jean, in hopes of one day obtaining the courage and righteousness he possessed. We all can be like St. Jean de Brebeuf because we all know of God’s love and that we are all called to be saints. It takes true determination and desire to be like St. Jean de Brebeuf, and I will always pray for this.

June 13, St. Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony of Padua

By Aline Laferriere

St. Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões on on August 15, 1195 in Lisbon to his Father Vicente Martins de Bulhões and Teresa Pais Taveira.

They came from ancestry of rich and noble family. They wished Fernando to be educated and so arranged for it to take place at a local cathedral. However, against their wishes, he entered the community of Canon Regulars at the Abbey of St. Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon. They were dedicated to scholarly pursuits and finished their major studies in the Abbey of The Holy Cross in Coimbra. His favored subject was Theology to which he dedicated most of his time and energy. After his ordination he was made guest master and in was placed in charge of hospitality.  In 1219 five Franciscan missionaries stayed at the Abbey on their way to Morocco to preach to Muslims about God. Through their example Fernando became attracted to simple evangelical lifestyle. The missionaries left and soon were martyred. He saw their bodies coming back to Assisi and Fernando meditated on the heroism of these men. Longing for the same gift of Martyrdom, he recurred permission from church authorities to leave his Augustinian order to join the new Franciscan order.

Upon admission to the Franciscan order he joined a small hermitage in Olivais which was where he took the name Anthony. He took this name in honor of St. Anthony the Great to whom the altar in this hermitage was dedicated. Brother Anthony set out for Morocco in fulfillment of his new vocation, but illness struck and stopped him and he headed for Italy, the center of his new order. On the voyage there the ship was driven in a storm onto the coast of Sicily and landed at Messina. From there he made his way to Luscany to be assigned to the convent order, but was met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. Finally he was assigned out of pure compassion to a rural hospice of San Paolo near Forli Romagna. There he appeared to live as a hermit and was put to work in the kitchen while allowed much time in private prayer and study.

On occasion of an ordination many Dominican friars were present and a misunderstanding over whom would preach arose. The Franciscans naturally expected the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit for they were renowned for their preaching. Of course they came unprepared for they assumed the Franciscans would preach. In a quandary the head of the hermitage who had no one suitable to speak called upon Anthony, whom he suspected was qualified, and entreated him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit put into his mouth.  Anthony’s sermon created a deep impression due to the beauty and eloquence of his talk.  He was one of the best preachers that anyone had ever heard. He was then commissioned by Brother Gratian, the Local Minister of Provincials, to preach the Gospel throughout Lombardy in Northern Italy. On one of his journeys he came to St. Francis of Assisi and in Anthony he found a kindred spirit for his vision and was able to entrust the formation of many of his friars to Anthony. He soon took on another assignment as a teacher in the University of Montpellier and Toulouse in southern France but was still principally known for his gift of preaching.  In 1226 he attended the General Chapter in Arles, France.  He later returned to Italy where his strength started to fail him.

Anthony became ill with edema and in the year 1231 went to Woodland retreat at Campo Sampiers with two other Friars for rest. Hi cell was built for him under branches of a Walnut tree. He died on his way back to Padua on June 13, 1231 at a Poor Clare monastery at Arcella. He was 36 years old.  Several legends surround his death. His tongue is incorrupt and is displayed for veneration. When his body was exhumed thirty years after his death they claim his tongue glistened and looked as if it was still alive and moist.  Many believe his tongue is incorrupt as a way to remind believers of his great gift of preaching.

St. Anthony of Padua means a lot to me and he teaches me many things. He was born into a family of privilege and chose to live a life of poverty and prayer. He shows that only through graces from God can we accomplish many things if not all. So as for myself even in today’s world I can proudly and bravely show my love and dedication of life to Our Lord even though it goes against the grain. He has blessed me many times over with strength to withstand taunts and persecution even onto death if need be. St. Anthony was an example for many and continues to be one today in a world so full of secularism and materialism.

June 12, St. Isaac Jogues

Saint Isaac Jogues

By John Martin

The life of St. Isaac Jogues is a shining example of faith, courage, perseverance, and a deep desire to spread the love of God.  St. Isaac Jogues’ love for God was so intense that he sacrificed everything, including his life, to bring souls to God.

St. Isaac Jogues was born on January 10, 1607, in Orleans, France.  He was the third son of a wealthy merchant who was enrolled in one of the finest schools of the area that was staffed by the Jesuits.  Isaac became attracted by the good example, dedication to God, and the concern for those in need of the Jesuit priests.  When he was seventeen years old, Isaac decided to enter the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, and become a priest.  His only goal was to be a good and holy servant of God.  He could have had an easy, comfortable life as a diocesan priest.  However, he had a great desire to live a missionary life.  He wanted to instruct others in the Catholic Faith and lead them to God.   St. Isaac became a missionary to the Huron Indians in North America.

During his ministry, he endured many sufferings, tortures, and captures at the hands of the Indians.  He endured the pain and humiliation of having the tips of his fingers removed to prevent him from celebrating Mass.  Pope Urban VIII, recognizing St. Isaac’s holiness and gave special permission for him to continue celebrating Mass with his damaged hands.  He stated, “It would be shameful, that a martyr of Christ be not allowed to drink the Blood of Christ.”  He always turned to God in his sufferings.  He heard a voice within him saying, “Serve God from love, not fear.  Do not worry about yourself.”  Those thoughts gave him courage to persevere and continue with his work.  He placed his life in God’s hands.  He was able to escape and returned to France.  St. Isaac was a humble man and did not enjoy the honor and publicity he received on his return home.  He felt he was not doing enough for the glory of God.  He desired to return to North America and resume his missionary work with the Indians.   St. Isaac wrote a letter to a priest friend before he left France.  In his letter he said, “Pray that He will make of me what He desires and that I may be a man after His own Heart that the Lord may grant to me largeness of heart great as the sand on the shore of the sea.  Would that He would somewhat enlarge my poor heart which is so narrow and by the experience of the past and by the abundance of His goodness and Mercy toward me I may learn to entrust myself entirely to Him being very sure that He will not draw back and let me fall when I shall cast myself lovingly into the arms of His divine and paternal providence.”

St. Isaac resumed his missionary work amongst the Indian nation.  He was recaptured by the Iroquois and brutally beheaded on October 18, 1646.  St. Isaac Jogues was canonized on June 29, 1930, along with the other seven North American martyrs.  We celebrate his feast day on October 19.

The life of St. Isaac Jogues has many lessons to teach us.  He would encourage us to learn our Catholic Faith, especially the Bible, in order to deepen our love for God. He would want us to use that knowledge of the faith to teach and bring souls to know and love God.  St. Isaac would remind us to always work for the will of God and desire only what pleases Him.  He shows us that courage and perseverance are possible when we love and trust God completely and turn to him in time of difficulties and sufferings.

St. Isaac Jogues and his companions planted the seeds of the Catholic Faith in North America.  Ten years later, in the same village where St. Isaac was murdered, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha was born.  St. Isaac shows us the importance of the missionary life.  This life is not only one of bringing the Word and Love of God by traveling to distant lands.  We are called to be “missionaries” to our family, friends, and everyone we encounter in our daily lives.  We can accomplish this not only by discussing the Faith but in our living witness of the practice of our Catholic Faith.  Every moment and action of our life can be an opportunity to share Christ’s love.  Everyone who met St. Isaac Jogues recognized his holiness without his even preaching a word.  We need our life to radiate our love of the Lord.  May St. Isaac Jogues inspire us to become Christ’s missionaries in our own age!

June 11, St. Barnabas

Saint Barnabas

By Nicholas Carrigg

St. Barnabas appeared in the wake of St. Stephen’s death.  Tradition tells us that he was a Cyprian Jew of the Levite tribe, but we know nothing of Barnabas' childhood, or how he looked, or what his occupation was before becoming a Christian.  St. Luke tells us that he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.  Early Church historians claim that Barnabas was one of the 70 disciples commissioned by Jesus to preach in Luke's Gospel, but of this, we cannot be certain.  What we can be certain of is that the Apostles in Jerusalem sent Barnabas on a mission to investigate a novel phenomenon in Antioch that forever changed the course of Christianity. 

After Stephen's martyrdom, the nascent Church scattered to evade persecution.  Yet out of this dangerous period, a miracle occurred.  Some of the scattered disciples felt the Holy Spirit well-up within them so mightily that they couldn't help but preach the Gospel to everyone around them—including Gentiles.  When the Church in Jerusalem received word that Jewish Christians were converting the Greek pagans of Antioch, the Apostles chose Barnabas to examine the matter.

St. Luke doesn't tell us much about Barnabas' first journey, but we do know that when he got to Antioch, the situation well-pleased him.  As a Levite, we can presume that Barnabas followed all the precepts of the Law.  And perhaps he believed—like many in the early Church—that true conversion to Christianity necessitated circumcision and eating a kosher diet.  But instead of evoking prejudice in him, the conversions at Antioch impressed Barnabas, convincing him that God was calling all peoples to salvation through His Son.  With this new outlook, Barnabas blessed the people of Antioch, and then immediately ventured to Tarsus in search of a man named Paul.  He would later come to be known as the Apostle to the Gentiles, but it wasn't until Barnabas sought him out that Paul began his prolific ministry.

The name Barnabas famously means “son of encouragement,” which was aptly given to the disciple due to his ability to see the potential in people.  This was true of his relationship with Paul, who was received cautiously by the Church in Jerusalem following his conversion, but quickly found a friend in Barnabas.  Perhaps their friendship was also due to their similar backgrounds as faithful Jews—indeed, perhaps they had even studied the Torah together.  Nonetheless, when Barnabas led a blind Paul to the Apostles and was met with fear and suspicion, only Barnabas had the courage to see beyond the ex-persecutor's reputation.

The latter part of Barnabas' ministry is threaded throughout the epistles.  We know that he and Paul built up the Church at Antioch so that it would become a stronghold of Christianity for centuries to come.  We also know that the two men stood ardently against circumcision for Gentile converts at the Council of Jerusalem.  After quelling this dispute, Barnabas and Paul journeyed with a young John Mark to Anatolia on their first missionary trip.  Although this sojourn proved fruitful for the disciples, Mark abandoned them early on, leaving Paul to believe that the soon-to-be Evangelist was a flake.  Here, however, Barnabas' foresight concerning his cousin trumped Paul's doubts.  On their second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas decided to take different routes and assistants.  It is of note that the two great missionaries did not let their disagreement get the better of them, but rather, put the Gospel first.  Paul journeyed further into Anatolia with Silas, while Barnabas—seeing Mark's potential—took the young man with him to Cyprus to evangelize their own people. 

Upon sailing to his homeland, Barnabas fades into the background of the New Testament, and, unfortunately, into the less-frequented crannies of hagiography.  For contemporary Catholics, St. Barnabas may not be at the top of their devotional list.  He didn't give us the Rosary or found Monasticism or even receive visions so far as the Scriptures tell us.   Nonetheless, we ought to ask for St. Barnabas' intercession—especially in today's world.  For Barnabas had the gift to see beyond a person's exterior, and towards the image of God in their soul.  How often do we pass up opportunities to spread the Gospel due to fear that it will fall on deaf ears, and that we will be persecuted?  Christ does not tell us to evangelize only those that look like they will listen to us.  Rather, he says to make disciples of all nations, and only to kick the dust off our sandals if we are rejected—not before we even try.  St. Barnabas reminds us that even the most unlikely persons (like ex-persecutors and flakes!) can become shining disciples to our Lord.  We need only open our minds and share with them the Good News.

June 10, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Saint Margaret  Mary Alacoque

By Margaret Alexander

In seventeenth century France, the faith in people had been badly shaken; there was a rebellion against the Church. But as every threat brings its response, so now there rose up a fresh strong force to counter these trends.  Born in 1647 in Burgundy and the fifth child of seven, Margaret grew up comfortably in a nice country house. Sadly though when she was eight her father died of pneumonia, and with his death brought hard times. Nevertheless, Margaret was able to be sent to a convent school at Charolles. She loved the peace and order of the convent life, and they, impressed by her devotion, allowed her to make her First Communion at the young age of nine. This was unusual at the time. Shortly after, she became ill with rheumatic fever and had to be sent home. She stayed there bedridden for four long years.

During the time she was at school her devotion to God and her faith grew stronger than before. So it was no surprise to her family when, at twenty years old, she chose the convent life for her future. At twenty-two she made her profession at the convent of the Visitation at Paray-Le-Monial and the name Mary was added when she became a novice. The years passed quietly for Margaret Mary and even though she was not very skillful in her duties she never stopped trying to do her best. Quite often you could find her kneeling at the altar in pious and humble prayer, and it was here that God chose her to be His Voice for mankind. On December 27, 1673 while she was praying at the altar she says she, “felt His Divine Presence and heard His Voice inviting her to take the place which St. John occupied at the Last Supper.” He told her that the Love of His Heart must spread and manifest itself to men, and He would reveal Its graces through her. This was the first of many revelations she would receive within eighteen months.

Margaret Mary went to the Mother Superior and told her what happened. She did not believe her and mortified and humiliated her so severely that she collapsed and became very ill. So ill in fact that she was very close to death. Afraid for the young nun’s life, the Superior told her, “if He spared her life, she would take this as a sign that the visions and messages were truly from God”. Margaret Mary prayed and recovered soon after. As promised, the Mother Superior believed and invited theologians to listen to the nun’s story. They judged her to be a victim of delusions. But a Jesuit, Father Claude, visited Margaret Mary and upon hearing her was completely convinced that the revelations were real. He wrote down everything Margaret Mary told him about these revelations. During the eighteen months that Margaret Mary was receiving revelations from Jesus some nuns were hostile towards her and her spiritual experiences and underwent great trials from their mockery. She was tempted with despair, vainglory and self-indulgence and had a good deal of sickness.

Two years later a new and more sympathetic Mother Superior became head of the convent. She appointed Margaret Mary as her assistant and from henceforth any remaining opposition ceased. After Father Claude’s death, his writings of the Divine Revelations were accidentally read out loud. Initially Margaret-Mary felt embarrassed but then she realized the importance of her secret being known. As she was also made mistress of the novices, she encouraged the devotion to the Sacred Heart among her novices. With His promises to those who honor His Heart they privately observed the Feast in 1685. She became such a success as novice-mistress that the nuns would ask leave to attend her conferences, and on June 21 the whole house celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart. A few years later a Chapel was built in honor of His Heart, and the devotion began to be accepted in other convents and propagated throughout France.

Margaret Mary became very ill while in her second term as assistant. She asked for the Last Sacraments saying, “I need nothing but God and to lose myself in the Heart of Jesus.” In October of 1690, at forty-three, Margaret Mary passed away peacefully.  Throughout her life Margaret Mary always counted on God.  Even as a child she was seen many times praying in the garden. Her faith and devotion were her strength to keep going, despite the fact she was sick most of her life. To love and serve God faithfully with a pious and humble heart would probably be her words to us today as well as to spread the importance of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that St. Margaret Mary spread devotion to was the same love that saved us from our sins and made us sons and daughters of God.

June 9, St. Thérèse Lisieux

Saint Thérèse Lisieux

By Sarah the Aspirant

St.Thérèse lived and died little known outside her family, friends and fellow sisters inside the Carmel of Lisieux, yet she ranks among the most beloved saints in the history of the Church. The young nun who died at twenty-four even received the title Doctor of the Church, and Pope St. Pius X described her as “the greatest saint of modern times.”

Zita and Louis Martin welcomed their last child, Thérèse on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France. St. Thérèse grew up with her other four sisters in a very loving and religious family, though not without suffering. Their mother died when Thérèse was four, and Thérèse subsequently turned from a lively child (“a little imp” according to her mother) to an oversensitive young girl.  Her father, to whom St. Thérèse grew very close, and her sisters showered love on her. Her two oldest sisters became her mothers, but this caused more heartache for St. Thérèse when the two became Carmelite nuns when she was six and ten years old. Throughout her childhood, St. Thérèse suffered from her over-sensitivity and scruples until her fourteenth year when she received an outpouring of grace to regain the firmness of mind she lost at age four. Promptly, St. Thérèse began advancing more surely in virtue.  A year later, she felt called to leave the world and live solely for Christ inside Carmel, but there were many obstacles because of her young age.  Eventually, her zealous prayers bore fruit and the superiors opened the convent to the fifteen year old.

Once in the cloister, St. Thérèse seriously undertook the noble task of becoming a saint, but she did so through the most ordinary and simple means, what she called “Little Way”, the “way of spiritual childhood.” She sought to love God totally in everything she did with childlike trust and abandonment, which required heroic faithfulness and constancy. She lived the religious life perfectly, following the Rule exactly, obeying her superiors, and practicing poverty. She suffered greatly from a cold without complaint and accepted whatever food was given her without comment. She was determined to turn everything into an act of love for God through a constant and generous self-denial in all things. True love is proven with sacrifice, but for St. Thérèse the sacrifice did not need to be externally great but only performed with great love. She wrote, “I was not like those grand souls who practice all kinds of penances from childhood. My mortification consisted in checking my self-will, keeping back an impatient word, doing little things for those around me without their knowing it.”  For example, once a sister accidentally kept splashing St. Thérèse with water in the laundry, but instead of showing her exasperation, she bore it patiently for the love of Jesus. Little sufferings like this were very dear to her.  She asked, “Can a victim of love find anything her Spouse sends terrible?”  Her devotion to Mary assisted her in this little way of love. She was comforted that she and Jesus have the same Mother.

St. Thérèse allowed her charity to “shine before men” in a supernatural way.  Although three of her biological sisters lived in the convent, she avoided their presence during recreation, which cost her dearly, and instead cheerfully spent time with sisters whom she naturally liked the least. St. Thérèse recounts that one sister, touched by her kindness, asked St. Thérèse what she found so admirable in her, and St. Thérèse wrote in answer, “It was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul, Jesus who makes attractive even what is most bitter.”  St. Thérèse practiced heroic patience and kindness with all her fellow Carmelites and, when she became the assistant novice mistress, guided the novices with supernatural love and wisdom.  St.Thérèse also showed great love towards all souls and Holy Mother Church through her prayers and penances.

Eventually, inspired by the love of God, she offered herself as a victim to God’s merciful love, in reparation of all the sinners who refused His Mercy, and God accepted that sacrifice. Towards the end of her life, her sufferings, bodily but much more spiritually, increased terribly. In the spring of 1896, when St. Thérèse was twenty-three, she contracted tuberculosis, and her health slowly declined so that by the fall of 1897 she was confined to bed. Meanwhile, God deprived her soul of all spiritual consolations, leaving her in absolute darkness, so that she attested, “my only consolation lies in not having any here below.”  She accepted these sufferings with resignation as the will of God and the means to save souls. She said,  “I could not have believed one could bear so much and can explain it only by my great desire to save souls.  Thy will be done, my God, but have mercy on me; sweet Virgin Mary, aid me.” Still, she remained joyful and cheerful with her sisters and, more heroically, maintained her faith and trust in God’s love and mercy to the very end. On September 30, 1897, after choking in agony for two hours, she died holding the crucifix and uttering, “My God, I love you!”

Before she died, she had said, “I feel my mission is soon to begin, to make others love God as I do, teaching others my ‘little way.’ I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth.”  This prediction has proved true through the publication and distribution of her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, in which she illustrates her “Little Way” and of which was said, “The abundant fruit of salvation, remarkable and worldwide, that reading this so engrossing and touching work still daily produces, far exceed the results of efforts purely human.”  St. Thérèse also promised, “After death I will let fall a shower of roses,” and she still sends roses in remarkable ways to her clients as proof of her powerful intercession.

St. Thérèse’s “Little Way” is an incredible gift for the Church.  It proves that all souls can reach great holiness by changing the most mundane acts into a loving sacrifice for God. No soul can be disappointed in this saint’s friendship and in following her “Little Way.” 

June 8, St. John Vianney

Saint John Vianney

By Jose Amaral

“If there were three men on Earth like thyself, my kingdom would be destroyed.”  This saying is from a woman who was possessed by the devil speaking about St. John M. Vianney, also know as the Cure of Ars.  For 34 years from 1824 to 1858 the devil tempted John M. Vianney.  John Vianney was one of God’s subjects, a virtuous man full of charity, faith and humility.  The devil tried to do all he could to stop St. John Vianney on his way to sainthood.  The devil would whisper in Fr. Vianney’s ear at night with a screeching voice, other times he will make the rectory shake like an earthquake.  While he was sleeping his body would feel like it was being trampled by rats.  Fr. Vianney would try to sleep in the center of the bed, with no mattress.  He would lie in the center of the bed because the devil would toss him around in it at night.  Curtains would move, also furniture, things will get knocked down.  John Vianney would think a swarm of bees would be in his room and he will have to wake up and open the window to let the bees out, but there were no bees.  John Vianney was tempted a lot but the devil’s greatest efforts were in trying to convince Fr. Vianney to give up praying and doing penance for souls to go to heaven.  This all happened at night while he was trying to sleep after many hours of prayer, hearing confessions, working, suffering and of course saying Mass for the conversion of souls.  All those years the devil tried but why?  We must know who John M Vianney was.

John M. Vianney was born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France to Matthieu and Marie Vianney.  John was the middle of 6 children.  The Vianney’s were poor and worked as farmers.   In 1789 the fall of Bastille, which happened to be the beginning of the French Revolution, affected France in so many ways, but mostly it affected the Catholic Church.  The Priests were persecuted if they were caught celebrating Mass.  Some were tortured, and even killed.  John Vianney grew up with a love for God and even built a little Statue of Our Lady; he prayed every opportunity he could.  He one time told his Mother, “I am going to bring many souls to God.”  In April of 1802 the Revolution ended.  Fr. Balley became Pastor at a parish in Ecully not far from Dardilly.  He was going to start a seminary there and he invited John Vianney to come, for he saw something in him that was to be a Priest.  Since John Vianney didn’t have much schooling during his youth he was behind in grammar and Latin.  One time a group of young seminarians around the age of 12 to 13 made fun of John Vianney and were disgusted by him.  John Vianney knelt down and begged forgiveness.  The boy forgave and later became the Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa in 1858.  John Vianney was tempted to leave the seminary because of his lack of French grammar and because he was completely discouraged with studying Latin.  He decided to leave the seminary in the summer of 1806.  With a stick in one hand and rosary in the other he prayed as he was on the way to a shrine.  When he entered the shrine he prayed for the grace to learn Latin and his prayers were answered.

After a short stint in the service John Vianney finished his studies and became a Priest in August of 1815 at 29 years of age.  He became an assistant to Fr. Bailey at Ecully.  Occasionally Fr. Bailey and now Fr. Vianny would go to the shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere.  They would stop to see friends in Lyons.  It was there Fr. Vianney would know about the virgin martyr whose body was found in the catacombs in Rome: his little friend St. Philommena.  Fr. Balley became very ill and passed away on December 17, 1817.  Fr. Vianney took care of him while he was ill and learned a lot from this holy pastor.  People petitioned Fr. Vianney to be their new pastor but a young priest had also died in a neighboring town and so Fr. Vianney was assigned to that parish in Ars.  The parish had 230 parishioners.  Fr. Vianney was appointed by the Vicar General who said to him,“There is not much love for God in that parish; you will bring some into it.”  On February 9, 1818 Fr. John M. Vianney set out to Ars, France.

Ars was a poor town about 22 miles from Lyons, France.  While he was on the road to Ars he asked a group of children how to get there and a young boy willingly pointed the way.  Fr. Vianney said, “My good friend you have shown me the way to Ars, I will show you the way to heaven.”  Fr. Vianney prayed for his parish.  He knew that to go to heaven one must repent, convert, and go to confession.  Fr. Vianney would do whatever it would take to convert his parish.  While he was kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament with tears in his eyes he woud pray, “My God grant me the conversion of my parish; I am willing to suffer all my life and whatsoever it may please Thee to lay upon me; even for a hundred years am I prepared to endure the sharpest pains, only let my people by converted.”

The one thing Fr. Vianney wanted to do was to be a hermit and just pray for souls, but Fr. Vianney was humble and obedient to his vocation.  God wanted him in Ars so he knew he had to stay there. Fr. Vianney realized that people weren’t coming to Mass because they were working in the fields or going to the taverns.  When Fr. Vianney found out about this he would go to the tavern and ask how much they made that day.  When he was told the price Fr. Vianney would pay double so the tavern will be closed on Sunday.  Fr. Vianney would preach on sin and how we must convert.  He would preach on the root of sins.  For example, he would say that we need to examine why we lie because the why behind the what is usually the root cause.  He preached on the Eucharist, the importance of having Christ at the center of our lives.  His Parish was converting and that is why the devil tempted him so much; Fr. Vianney was drawing many souls to confession.  Fr. Vianney would hear confessions for 16 to 18 hours a day.  He had a schedule of when to hear confessions with women, then men, and so forth.  He finally converted not just his parish, but towns around it.  He used to say that whenever he was tempted greatly the night before a sinner would be converted.  Fr. Vianney would also say, “A converted sinner after going and saying a good confession is a greater miracle than someone being resurrected from the dead.”  Fr. John Vianney died August 4, 1859 at the age of 73.

Fr. John Vianney through his life teaches us today many virtues and ways to trust in God.  The one virtue I really try to follow him by was humility, how he never yelled at anyone and never tried to defend himself even though he was right.  I look to the story of him being 19 in the seminary and kneeling down in front of the 12-year-old boy, asking for forgiveness even though he was the one who was offended.  He never thought of himself.  He always put God and others first.  He was also very obedient to God’s Will for his life, his vocation.  Through his example we can all ask ourselves, “What am I doing with my life? Is it God’s Will?”  He took whatever God gave him and he did the best he could with no regrets.  He is also an example of patience.  Many parishioners tried to help him because he was tempted by the devil all those years.  He stayed until it was time to go to eternal rest.  He never fought back, never made excuses, he just accepted whatever trial was given to him and he suffered with patience. He never complained.  This clearly stems from his prayer life for as a young priest in Ars he begged for the conversion of his Parish.  If the Cure of Ar’s was alive today and saw what the world has become (with the ways of dance, pleasure and selfishness) I think he would do more penance, suffer more and preach on why the world has become the way it is.  He would say it must start with us.  We need to repent and convert so that we can convert others.  He would also not just preach but lead by example.

To really get to know the Cure of Ars we can read his sermons and his life. I hope that this short essay will be enough to start to introduce you to my hero, St. John Marie Vianney, also known as the Cure of Ars.  Thanks be to God! God Bless.