ST. JOHN VIANNEY, EXEMPLARY PATRON OF PRIESTS............

August 4th on the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic - Christian Church is the Memorial of Jean Baptist-Marie Vianney, known in English as St. John Vianney, and called the Cure of Ars, for his dedication and devotion as an assistant parish priest in 19th Century France.  Born on May 8, 1786;  as the fourth of six children of Matthieu Vianney and Marie Beluze, John Vianney was baptized on the date of his birth, and raised in a family who fervantly served the poor and generously provided hospital to St. Benedict Joseph Labre, who is now the patron saint of tramps, when Benedict Joseph journeyed through the Vianneys hometown of Dardilly, as he made his way to Rome, on a pilgrimage.  Despite delays in his youthful education and preparations to become a priest, and deficiencies in gis academic achievement John Vianney perservered through the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, to become a humble and holy priest, whose attention and ministry to the people he served had a transforming affect on the community of believers he served and centered in his affinity for celebrating Mas and in his availability for hearing Confessions and the Sacrament of Penance.  It is in this that St. John Vianney provides an example of holiness, fidelity, and commitment, to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, that sets a high standard for all priests and makes him a truly excellent exemplar for those who answer God's Call to minister as ordained priests IN Catholic-Christianity.  During his lifetime, Reverend Father Vianney, as curate, or associate priest in parish ministry became internationally renowned and received visitors between 1827 - 1856, of more than 20,000 annually by the end of that time period and leading him during the last decade of his life to spend two thirds to three quarters of everyday ( 16-18 hours daily) in the Confessional.  Vianney's contemplative spirituality which anchored him and took him away from Ars four times, beginning in 1853, was a great contributor to the effectiveness of his ministry as a priest.  When he died on August 4, 1859; at age 73, the local Bishop was joined at his fumeral by 300 priests, and 6,000 people in attendance.  Credited with multiple miracles,  his holiness and spirituality led to his being declared, "Venerable", by Pope Pius  IX in 1874; "Blessed", and a model for diocesan priests in 1905; by Pope Pius X - and, "Canonized", a Saint of the Church by Pope Pius XI, in 1925, less than two thirds of a century after his death.  His liturgical feast day was originally set on August 8th, and was changed to August 4th, the anniversary of his passing from earthly life.  Declared Patron Saint of Priests in 1929, eighty years later, he was invoked by Pope Benedict XVI, as patron of the spiritual and pastoral renewal observance for the, "Year of the Priest", in 2009-2010.  Noted for his intercession leading to Healing, especially the curing of children.  Two other historical notes about the life and death of  John Vianney stand out for me by this six times, papally honored saint.  As a student of the American Presidency, it is interesting that his birthday and the last day of his life, both intersect with the birthdays of two American Presidents.  Born on May 8th, 1876, that date eight years later became the birthday of President Harry S Truman, in 1884; and dying on August 4, 1859, one hundred and two years hence, August 4, 1961; became the birthday of President Barack Obama.  As we commemorate St. John Vianney today, let us pray thay his simple, but consistent devotion to God, and dedication to ministering to God's People, may continue to inspire and be emulated by all parish priests, especially at this critical juncture in the history and ordained ministry of  the Catholic Church in Christianity and the World............Fr.  Troy