We continue today our journey with John Vianney.
When John was in his early 20's he confided to his mother that he wanted to be a priest. She was excited but his father, however, did not think it was a good idea.
They needed John to stay at home and help on the farm. Things were tight and his father did not think they could afford to lose John's ability and strength and service.
Also, it was expensive and the Vianney family did not have the money to send their son to school.
After some insistence on his mother's part John Vianney was allowed to study under the a local pastor.
When he turned 24, in the midst of his studies, John Vianney was drafted into the army, in 1809. France went to war with Spain and Napoleon needed young men to help wage his battles.
John Vianney was devastated to say the least. Yet, he went. While there, he was sickened by the vulgarity of the soldiers, so much so that he got sick and was hospitalized for 6 weeks.
After he was released he was sent to catch up with his unit. On the way he got turned around and winded up get caught up with a young man who was a deserted.
This young man convinced John Vianney to join him and numerous other young men who had also deserted the army. So he hid for the next two years. He was a deserter.
In this little town, in the middle of the woods, John Vianney made a home and took an alias; he was known as Jerome Vincent.
He spent some time living in a stable before one of the towns folk took him in.
He had to always be on alert. At one point, he was hiding in the barn beneath some hay when the authorities raided the place looking for deserters.
He nearly suffocated to death and one of the soldiers, as he poked the hay with his sword poked him in the process. Later, he spoke of the occasion as the worst suffering he ever endured.
While hiding, he made a vow he would never again complain to God about anything. And he kept his vow until he died some 50 years later.
After two years of hiding out, the war was not nearly as fierce and a reprieve was granted to deserters. John Vianney was reunited with his family. His younger brother, decided to take John's place in the military. Thus, John was freed to continue his studies.
John Vianney's brother, once he took John's place, was never heard of again.
Shortly after John's return, his mother died at the young age of 58.
He, however, managed to continue his studies for the priesthood.
John Vianney reflecting on his experience as a deserter stated that "as a defaulter, he was ever afraid of the authorities. In a like manner the sinner, because of the reproaches of his conscience, fears at every moment lest he be overtaken by divine justice."
In all, he always looked upon the circumstances of his life as providential, as God's hand leading him through, all the while teaching him new lessons. He believed that in his life and circumstances, Jesus continued tot each him in parables. That his entire life became a parable filled with deeper meaning and an ever abiding presence of God.
He trusted God's vision not his own.
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