The word Curé is a French word meaning pastor. Ars is a village in the country of France.The Curé of Ars we are named for is St. John Marie Vianney who was born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France.
He was the fourth of six children born to a farming family. At the time of his birth the French Revolution was in progress and Catholics and their priests had to worship in secret. Due to this John Marie learned all his catechism lessons in secret .
At the age of 17 around the year 1803, John Vianney became aware of his vocation to become a priest but unfortunately he had no prior education so he went to be tutored first and then in1813 he entered the seminary. Since he had a hard time learning Latin and all his classes were taught in Latin he again went to be tutored. He was ordained a priest on August 13, 1815. He is a model for all those who have to work hard in trying to study or work for what they want.
In February of 1818, he was appointed to Ars, and he was told that since there was little religion or love there, it would be his job to bring both. He did bring both religion and love through prayer, Eucharistic adoration and the Blessed Mother and also by doing great penances. He worked tirelessly and sometimes heard confessions for 16 to 18 hours a day. People came from all over to see him and confess to him and sometimes had to wait hours or even days to see him.
He died on August 4, 1859 and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI, on May 31, 1925. He was a model for parish priests and on April 29, 1929 he was designated as the Patron Saint of all parish priests. In 2010 he was named as the patron saint of all priests by Pope Benedict XVI.
Many people think of Curé as being a cure instead of the correct meaning of the word which is Pastor. He was the priest or the Pastor in charge of the church in the village of Ars in France.
Another thing that many people don't know about St. John Marie Vianney is that he gave the credit for any miracles that were performed during the time he was at Ars to a young girl he referred to as "his dear little saint - his representative and his agent with God" - St. Philomena. At one time there were so many miracles that he told St. Philomena to stop. She, in addition to St. John Marie Vianney is a very powerful saint.
He was the fourth of six children born to a farming family. At the time of his birth the French Revolution was in progress and Catholics and their priests had to worship in secret. Due to this John Marie learned all his catechism lessons in secret .
At the age of 17 around the year 1803, John Vianney became aware of his vocation to become a priest but unfortunately he had no prior education so he went to be tutored first and then in1813 he entered the seminary. Since he had a hard time learning Latin and all his classes were taught in Latin he again went to be tutored. He was ordained a priest on August 13, 1815. He is a model for all those who have to work hard in trying to study or work for what they want.
In February of 1818, he was appointed to Ars, and he was told that since there was little religion or love there, it would be his job to bring both. He did bring both religion and love through prayer, Eucharistic adoration and the Blessed Mother and also by doing great penances. He worked tirelessly and sometimes heard confessions for 16 to 18 hours a day. People came from all over to see him and confess to him and sometimes had to wait hours or even days to see him.
He died on August 4, 1859 and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI, on May 31, 1925. He was a model for parish priests and on April 29, 1929 he was designated as the Patron Saint of all parish priests. In 2010 he was named as the patron saint of all priests by Pope Benedict XVI.
Many people think of Curé as being a cure instead of the correct meaning of the word which is Pastor. He was the priest or the Pastor in charge of the church in the village of Ars in France.
Another thing that many people don't know about St. John Marie Vianney is that he gave the credit for any miracles that were performed during the time he was at Ars to a young girl he referred to as "his dear little saint - his representative and his agent with God" - St. Philomena. At one time there were so many miracles that he told St. Philomena to stop. She, in addition to St. John Marie Vianney is a very powerful saint.
St. Philomena
Fr. Bob Vaillancourt celebrates Mass at the Shrine of the Curé of Ars below the incorrupt body of St. Jean Marie Vianney.
