St. John Vianney
Feast 08-04 · Canonized 1925
Patron of
About
John Vianney was born in 1786 in Dardilly, France, to a farming family. His path to the priesthood was difficult; he struggled with Latin and was nearly rejected from seminary, but his piety and perseverance won through, and he was ordained in 1815.
In 1818 he was sent to the small village of Ars, where he served as parish priest for the rest of his life. Through tireless preaching, long hours in the confessional, and a life of severe penance, he drew pilgrims from across France and became known as the Cure of Ars.
He died on August 4, 1859, and was canonized in 1925. In 1929 Pope Pius XI named him patron saint of parish priests.
Prayer
St. John Vianney, who spent sixteen hours a day in the confessional of Ars and said, "I love You, O my God," pray for priests, that they may be holy, humble, and faithful shepherds of souls. Amen.