From the vatious writings of Saint Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney, “the Curé d’Ars,” patron of parish priests:
“God will forgive those who have forgiven: that is the law.”
— Homily
“All soldiers are good in garrison. On the field of battle, we see the difference between the brave and the cowardly.”
— Lenten Sermon
“There is such a thing as holy anger, which comes from our zeal in upholding the interests of God.”
— Sermon on Anger
“If you are afraid of other people’s opinion, you should not have become a Christian.”
— Sermon on the Fear of Other People’s Opinion
“In our actions we must always choose the most perfect.”
— Catechism on the Cardinal Virtue
“Worldly people have not the Holy Spirit, or if they have, it is only for a moment. The noise of the world drives him away.”
— Catechism on the Holy Spirit
“The Saints were so completely dead to themselves that they cared very little whether others agreed with them or not.”
— Catechism on Pride
“Those that love themselves with a love that seeks themselves and the world — that seeks creatures more than God — are never satisfied — never quiet. They are always uneasy, always tormented, always upset.”
— Catechism on the Love of God
“We must love while we suffer, and we must suffer if we love.”
— Catechism on Suffering
“I often think that even if there were no other life than this one, it would be enough happiness just to love God here and to do something for his glory.”
— The Curé d’Ars and the Love of God
“We have nothing of your own but out will. It is the only thing which God has so placed in our own power that we can make an offering of it to him.”
— Mortification of the Curé d’Ars
“To do things well, one must do them as God wishes.”
— Notre-Dame d’Ars, Meditation 22
“God commands you to pray, but he forbids you to worry.”
— On Keeping Sunday
“Do not be like the proud who are always want to assert their own opinion … I have known people with whom this had become a daily habit.”
— On Mortifying the Self-Will
“Are you falsely accused, or loaded with insults? All the better! It is a good sign; don’t worry about it. You are on the road which leads to Heaven.”
— The Strength of the Curé d’Ars in Suffering
1 comment:
My wife and I are very blessed to have been married on St. John Vianney's feast day, 4 August (2001).
I once heard — although I haven't confirmed whether it is in fact true — that SJV is the only diocesan priest to have been canonized. (As one orthodox, brilliant and downright funny diocesan priest I know once said, "Parish priests don't have time to be holy; we always have to worry about whether the boiler's working and whether there's toilet paper in the ladies' bathroom.)
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