Today we celebrate the feast of John Vianney the patron of priest.
He was born 1786, ordained to the priesthood in 1815, sent to Ars in 1818 where he remained the next 41 years as pastor. He died in 1859 consumed by seeking souls for the Good Lord.
Where the saints pass, God is found.
John Vianney taught that the glorious duty of man was simply to pray and love, this is where our happiness is to be found.
He said prayer was incense that gives God the greatest pleasure and it always made our small heart stretch so that we could surely love as we ought.
As we read in the psalm today, "Be merciful O Lord for we have sinned" John Vianney would say that our errors are like grains of sands against the mountain of God's mercy.
He would bless the hour every hour. Every time the clock struck a new hour he would pause and reflect, giving thanks to God who gave him more time to pray and love. He would say "blessed be God, courage my soul; time is passing eternity approaches; may I live as I hope to die. Blessed be the immaculate conception of the blessed virgin Mary Mother of God."
May we pause and bless each hour and watch our little hearts be stretched to a greater capacity of love.
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