BIG C CATHOLICS

Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot was a 19th century French Catholic laywoman and the foundress of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary Association. During her life, she visited with Saint John Vianney many times. Here are the Curé d'Ars words to her on bearing our crosses with love. Through the hands of the Blessed Virgin, the Good God frequently grants one of the greatest gifts in heaven's treasury; an understanding of the way of the cross: a love of trials and sufferings. My sister, to try to get from under the cross is to be crushed by its weight, but to suffer it lovingly is to suffer no longer. ― St. John Vianney __________________________________ Prayer in Honor of the Holy Cross of Christ Almighty God and Father, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race and restore all things to You, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may duly merit the grace of his redem

October 29, 2017 Priesthood Sunday, the last Sunday of October, is a day set aside to honor the priesthood in the United States. Saint John Vianney observed, "The Priesthood is the Love of the Heart of Jesus." In considering this most profound insight from the Curé d'Ars , His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI explained that, "This touching expression makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself." Unfortunately, the number of priests in many dioceses is dwindling. But what if they disappeared all together? The consequences would be immense. No more priests, no more Eucharist, no more grace, no more Church, no more mercy, no more salvation. As Saint Padre Pio once said, "It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!" This is indeed true. Do not be afraid to break out of comfortable and

Fr. Vincent F. Kienberger, O.P. [August 4th, is the memorial of St. John Vianney.] During the French Revolution, a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialize the happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who harbored priests were imprisoned. At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly, France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest. While tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to His tabernacles very soon!" On a visit to his aunt at

The Priesthood is the Love of the Heart of Jesus. — St. John Vianney ______________________________________________ In reflecting upon this profound insight from the  Curé d'Ars , the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI observed, “This touching expression makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself.” Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may worthily receive our measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts.

Saint John Vianney, the  Curé d'Ars , spent countless hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He was completely devoted to Christ in the Eucharist as evidenced by his words below. Almighty and merciful God, who made the priest St. John Vianney wonderful in his pastoral zeal, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example, we may in charity, win brothers and sisters for Christ and, by persevering in boundless fraternity, attain with them eternal glory. When you awake in the night, transport yourself quickly in spirit before the Tabernacle, saying: 'Behold, my God, I come to adore You, to praise, thank, and love you, and to keep you company with all the Angels,' *** The soul hungers for God, and nothing but God can satiate it. Therefore He came to dwell on earth and assumed a Body in order that this Body might become the Food of our souls. *** The many wonders of creation can only fill us with astonishment and admiration. But when we speak of th

August 12, 2016 Saint John Vianney dedicated his priesthood to rooting out and defeating sin. He preached of God's mercy and dispensed it in the confessional. He longed for the conversion of all souls to Christ. May we turn our hearts to God with joy, knowing that He loves us completely and desires only what is good for us. Novena Prayer, Day Nine: St. John Vianney, you never let an opportunity to enlighten people and save souls pass you by. Through your efforts, many people have experienced moral and spiritual renewal. Pray that God grant me the same zeal to make His love known to all my neighbors, so that all of us may learn to despise all forms of sin. Let all my actions reveal an awakened love of God by through my interactions with my fellow men. Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention) St. John Vianney, Pr

August 11, 2016 Today let's pray that we may imitate the simplicity of St. John Vianney's life. He focused his whole heart and mind on the Lord. Today, let us pray that we may do the same. Novena Prayer, Day Eight: St. John Vianney, you lived a simple and austere life, preferring to store riches in heaven. You never turned your back to any of the poor people needing your assistance. Pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten me and remain with me always so that I too may learn to forego material possessions to earn God’s grace. May I always value my spiritual health over all the wealth in the world. Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention) St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen. Prayer in Honor of St. John Vianney Almighty and merciful God, who made the Priest Saint John Via

August 10, 2016 Saint John Vianney was passionate about speaking out against sin, and equally as passionate about bringing his parishioners into the confessional so that they could be forgiven. He believed the worst crime people could commit would be to receive the Eucharist in vain. He used to say that it was a miracle that people who did this were not struck dead on the spot. Today, we pray for the desire to seek reconciliation with God so that we may be worthy to receive the Eucharist. Novena Prayer, Day Seven: Saint John Vianney, in life you have shown your veneration of the Blessed Sacrament. To this end you spent long hours in the confessional to help the faithful become worthy to receive the holy sacraments. Obtain for me the fervent desire to always remain worthy to receive the holy sacraments that I may also one day be rewarded with God’s favor, and spend life in His kingdom with all the saints for all eternity. Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I

August 9, 2016 Prayer was at the center of Saint John Vianney's faith and led to the subsequent conversion of his parishioners. He once observed, "Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there, If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that." Novena Prayer, Day Six: Saint John Vianney, you rejoiced at every opportunity to spend time in prayers and contemplation. Your dedication was such that, had it not been for practical considerations, your bishop would have granted your wish to be a monk. Teach me the power of prayer, that I may slowly understand God’’s will for me. Obtain for me the conviction that through fervent prayer, nothing is impossible. Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this nove

August 8, 2016 Saint John Vianney was plagued by many trials and besieged by the devil, yet he remained firm in his faith and continued to live out a life of devotion to God. This was possible due to his dedication to the Blessed Sacrament, his time in spent in prayer, and the frequent mortifications he practiced. Vianney labored all hours of the day and night. He ate and sleep little, fasting regularly. He completely trusted the Lord and surrendered his life to Him. Novena Prayer, Day Five: Saint John Vianney, God’s grace saw you through all the trying moments of your life. Inspired by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, you sacrificed your entire life in order to serve him fully. Your complete trust and surrender to His will allowed you to enter priesthood in spite of the many trials you had to endure. Obtain for me the same complete trust in the will of God, that will allow me to see hardships and trials as sacrifices I need to joyfully accept in His name. Let my anxie

August 7, 2016 Saint John Vianney set out to save souls by confronting sin and spiritual lethargy wherever it was found. Soon the effects of his preaching and tireless promotion of the sacrament of penance became so renowned that people traveled great distances just to have him hear their confessions. His bishop requested that Vianney forego retreats in order to continue saving souls. May we be as single-minded in our determination to love God and others, even if it requires sacrifice. Novena Prayer, Day Four: Saint John Vianney, when you saw social ills and sin in your parish, you sparked moral and spiritual renewal through your homilies and work in the confessional. Your unrelenting efforts to win back souls to God’s grace has caused many to repent. By your soft words you were able to convert many sinners like me. Pray for me that God may bless me with the same outrage for sin and for me to have the compassion for sinners that you did. Let me choose my words carefully, le

August 6, 2016 St. John Vianney's call to the priesthood faced difficulty when the major seminary rejected him for being too slow. He was later admitted at the request of his mentor, Father Balley, who reasoned that his piety compensated for his ignorance. Vianney was ordained on August 12, 1815, and said his first Mass the next day. He was assigned as an assistant to Father Balley in Ecully. In 1818, a few years after the death of his mentor, Vianney was appointed parish priest in Ars. Novena Prayer, Day Three: Saint John Vianney, your successful journey to the priesthood is a testament to your determination to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Your life as a priest is a shining example of what we should expect from the chosen leaders of God’s flock. Your perseverance in the face of many hardships has saved numerous souls. By contemplating on your life, may I be imbued with the same determination to be the best that I can be in the many roles I play in life. Let everything

August 5, 2016 Saint John Vianney was an extremely selfless priest who prayed and worked unceasingly for his parishioners' conversions. He listened to confessions up to 16 hours each day during summer. His homilies on the mercy and love of God were so powerful, it is said that upon hearing his words sinners were converted. Novena Prayer, Day Two: Saint John Vianney, you dedicated your life towards saving souls for the greater glory of God. You were even blessed with an almost supernatural ability to obtain what you needed to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ. You freely gave of yourself in imitation of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach me also to see God in each person around me, and especially in those who have wronged me. Help me to see service to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as a responsibility that I should joyfully and willingly fulfill to gain a chance to live with you, with our Lord, and all the saints for all eternity. B

August 4, 2016 Though a simple and humble parish priest, Saint John Vianney was renowned for converting sinners with gentle words. He would spend eleven to sixteen hours per day hearing confessions just to accommodate the pilgrims coming to Ars. May we imitate his tireless devotion and faithfulness in doing the will of God. Novena Prayer, Day One: Saint John Vianney, you were blessed with a loving and devout family who supported your desire to increase your faith and devote yourself fully towards imitating the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In your quest to pursue your holy vocation, you were not deterred by the many obstacles that came your way. Your strong faith carried you through all of life’s trials to your place in God’s kingdom. Obtain for me the same courage and faith that allowed you to give all to God without counting the cost. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to the right decisions that will best serve God and my neighbor. Believing in the power of your kind int

This collection of St. John Vianney quotations on prayer reflect his lifelong dedication to knowing and making known the ways of God and the mind of Christ. Man has a noble task: That of prayer and love. To pray and love, that is the happiness of man on earth. ***  Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself. ***  Never forget that it is at the beginning of each day that God has the necessary grace for the day ready for us. He knows exactly what opportunities we shall have to sin, and will give us everything we need if we ask him then. That is why the devil does all he can to prevent us from saying our morning prayers or to make us say them badly. ***  Prayer is nothing else than union with God. When the heart is pure and united with God it is consoled and filled with sweetness; it is dazzled by a marvelous light. ***  What souls we can convert by our prayers. The one who saves a soul from hell saves this soul and his own as well. ***  W

August 4th is the Memorial of Saint John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859). He was born May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France and baptized the same day. He was the fourth of six children to Matthieu and Marie Vianney. During Vianney's youth, the French Revolution forced priests to work in secrecy and Catholicism underground. The future saint was initially catechized and confirmed in private by two nuns who had lost their convent in the violence against the Church. Against many obstacles and difficulties, (including seminary professors who considered him slow) Vianney suffered and struggled to become an exemplary priest. He was ordained in 1815. Shortly afterward, he was assigned to Ars, a town of 230 inhabitants (hence his designation the Curé d'Ars). John Vianney was internationally known for his priestly work and for the spiritual transformation of the community of Ars. People traveled for miles to attend his Masses, hear him preach, and go to confession. Men of all ranks and

Besides Jesus, there may be no better model for priests than St. John Vianney, who is the patron of parish priests. Only a handful of parish priests have been canonized. Most are religious priests, missionaries, bishops, cardinals and popes. Vianney lived from 1786 to 1859. For forty-one years, he was the Cure (pastor) of the French town of Ars. The Curé d'Ars is known for his prayerfulness and piety. People would travel for miles to attend his Masses, hear him preach and go to confession. As a result, the small town of Ars became a center of virtue and faithfulness. The Novena to St. John Vianney begins Thursday, August 4th. Consider praying this novena on behalf of the priesthood or for a specific priest. St. John Vianney is known for his intercessory prayers for priests, miracles and other impossible situations. Almighty and merciful God, who made the priest St. John Vianney wonderful in his pastoral zeal, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we ma

In today's world, it's hard, and even dangerous in some situations , to be a follower of Jesus. In many ways, it's even harder to be a faithful priest. The demands on our priests' time and the hostilities they face while preaching the Good News are numerous. The Novena to St. John Vianney begins Thursday, August 4th. Consider praying this novena on behalf of the priesthood or for a specific priest. St. John Vianney is known for his intercessory prayers for priests, miracles and other impossible situations. Our priests need our prayers. Think of the priests in your life; those who have brought you closer to Christ, those who are struggling in some way, or those you happen to know. Pray this novena for them, and for all ordained pastors of souls serving Christ's Bride, the Church. St. John Baptist Mary Vianney is known for overcoming many obstacles to become a priest and serve God and his parishioners. He did so selflessly, displaying heroic virtue. He is t

This is what purifies the eye of the heart, and enables it to raise itself to the true light: contempt of worldly cares, mortification of the body, contrition of heart, abundance of tears... meditation on the admirable Essence of God and on His chaste Truth, fervent and pure prayer, joy in God, ardent desire for Heaven. Embrace all this, and continue in it. Advance towards the light which offers itself to you as to its sons, and descends of itself into your hearts. Take your hearts out of your breasts, and give them to Him who speaks to you, and He will fill them with deific splendour, and you will be sons of light and angels of God.  ― St. John Vianney, the Curé d'Ars

St. John Vianney, the Cure d' Ars Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney (1786 – 1859) was a French parish priest assigned to Ars, a town of 230 inhabitants (hence his designation as the  Curé d'Ars .) He became internationally known for his priestly work because of the spiritual transformation of the community. People traveled for miles to attend his Masses, hear him preach, and go to confession. Vianney was canonized by Pope Pius XI and is the patron saint of parish priests. St. John Vianney is remembered for extolling the sacrament of confession as indispensable to a life of virtue, for his personal piety, mortification, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This collection of St. John Vianney quotations on prayer reflect his lifelong dedication to knowing and making known the ways of God and the mind of Christ. Man has a noble task: That of prayer and love. To pray and love, that is the happiness of man on earth. Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the sou