John was a farm hand who in his youth taught other children their prayers and catechism. He was ordained in 1815, though it took several years study as he had little education, was not a very good student, and his Latin was terrible. He was assigned for a while to Ecully. In 1818 he was assigned to the parish of Ars, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance. He began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor. He spent days in prayer, doing penance for his parishioners. John was gifted with discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge, and working miracles. He was tormented by evil spirits, especially when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night. Crowds came to hear him preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his reputation with penitents. By 1855 there were 20,000 pilgrims a year to Ars. He spent 40 years as the parish priest.
Born: May 8, 1786 at Dardilly, Lyons, France
Died: August 4, 1859 at Ars, France of natural causes
Name Meaning: God is gracious; gift of God
Venerated: July 26, 1896
Beatified: January 8, 1905
Canonized: May 31, 1925
Readings:
All our religion is but a false religion, and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God, if we have not that universal charity for everyone - for the good, and for the bad, for the poor and for the rich, and for all those who do us harm as much as those who do us good.
"Saint John Vianney
If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a greatnumber of Christians would go to Heaven.
"Saint John Vianney
You cannot please both God and the world at the same time, They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.
"Saint John Vianney