Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal. ”He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?”He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
REFLECTION
From a young age, St. John Marie Vianney admired priests, viewing them as heroes. During that period in France, priests faced persecution and had to operate secretly due to the prevailing anti-clerical sentiment.
Following the French Revolution and Napoleon's rule, John Vianney was able to attend a minor seminary in Verrieres-en-Forez and later a major seminary in Lyons. Although he found academics challenging, his deep piety compensated for his slow learning.
He was ordained as a priest on August 12, 1815, at the Couvent des Minimes de Grenoble. He collaborated with Abbe Balley, who appointed Vianney as his assistant. After Balley's death three years later, John was transferred to the small town of Ars.
It took St. John ten years to convert the townspeople to Catholicism, achieved by teaching children the catechism and instructing the community in the love and prayer of the rosary. He spent 11-18 hours hearing confessions, occasionally withholding absolution from some individuals.
He was reputed to "read souls" and consistently assigned the appropriate penance for repentance.
Humble and devoted, he aimed to guide his parishioners toward holiness. He had a profound devotion to St. Philomena, building a chapel and shrine in her honor, and credited her with curing him of a severe illness. He was also devoted to the Blessed Mother.
After gaining fame in 1855, up to 20,000 pilgrims would visit Ars to have him hear their confessions or seek his counsel.
St. John Marie Vianney was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. His Feast Day is celebrated on August 4th. Pope Benedict XVI described St. John Marie Vianney (the Curé of Ars) as a true pastoral example and a universal model of total self-giving and love for the Eucharist and confession.
