St. Paul on the lake Catholic CHurch

St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church is dedicated to forming joyful missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.

August 7, 2022

             This past Thursday, August 4 was the Feast Day of  St. John Marie Vianney (May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859). He was canonized on May 31, 1925. He is known as the Cure of Ars. “Cure” means a priest bearing the responsibility of a parish. Ars is a rural town in France.
 
             St. Vianney was the fourth of six children and was raised in a humble family. They were devout followers of the Catholic Faith. His mother was responsible for leading St. Vianney into the religious life. However, the turbulence of the French Revolution marked his childhood. It was a dangerous time for the religious and many priests were forced into hiding. The priests risked their lives administering the sacraments. The Vianney family journeyed miles to receive Holy Communion at Mass and this touched the young Vianney’s heart. He looked at these priests as heroes. He received his First Holy Communion at the age of 13 in a private home. With all the upheaval in his childhood because of the Revolution, his education was restricted and it was extremely difficult for St. Vianney to study philosophy and theology. St. Vianney struggled immensely in the seminary, but through the Grace of God, his priest-mentor saw the holiness in St. Vianney and pushed for his ordination, and it was granted.