Although today is the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, in the Church’s Roman Liturgical Calendar it’s also the memorial for Saint John Vianney. He is known as the Curé D’Ars, the Priest of Ars. He converted thousands to the Catholic faith during this lifetime as a priest. Pope Pius XI declared him the “Patron of Parish Priests” in 1929.
As a good priest should, he loved celebrating Holy Mass and had a profound devotion to the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He spent countless hours in the Confessional for he loved the souls under his care. He received grace and strength from the Blessed Sacrament.
Below are 10 words from St John Vianney to the 21st century on the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament:
- “How pleasing to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is the short quarter of an hour that we steal from our occupations, from something of no use, to come and pray to Him, to visit Him, to console him.”
- “Do not be afraid of people saying that going to Mass on a weekday is only for those who have nothing to do…Are you ashamed to serve God for fear of being despised?”
- “Our Lord is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, waiting for us to come and visit Him.”
- “After the reception of the Sacraments, when we feel the love God growing cold, let us instantly make a Spiritual Communion.”
- “What happiness do we not feel in the Presence of God, when we are alone at His feet before the Sacred Tabernacle!…Redouble your fervor, you are alone to adore your God; His eyes rest upon you alone.”
- “When we want to obtain anything of the good God, let us, after Holy Communion, offer Him His well-beloved Son, with all the merits of His Death and Passion; He will be able to refuse us nothing.”
- “When a soul has received the Sacrament of the Eucharist worthily, it is humble, mortified, charitable, and is capable of the most sublime sacrifices. In short, it is no longer the same.”
- “When we come from our Communions, if anyone said to us: “What are you taking home with you?” we should be able to reply: “I am carrying away Heaven!”
- “To what outrages does Our Lord expose Himself in the Blessed Sacrament that He may remain in the midst of us! He is there to console us, and therefore we ought often to visit Him.”
- “Happier than those who lived during His mortal life, when He was only in one place, we find Jesus Christ today in every corner of the world, in the Blessed Sacrament.”
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you gave us the great parish priest, St John Vianney, who was full of pastoral zeal and grace. Through his intercession, help us to win more souls for Jesus Christ so that we all may attain Heavenly and eternal glory with you. Amen.
We give thanks for all our priests and through the intercession of St John Vianney ask God’s blessings upon them.
Reblogged this on Catholic4Life.
LikeLike
But He celebrated with the Traditional Rites and a Traditional Altar and St Philomena. The language was latin. So it is very difficult to equate this Great Saint with the modernised Church of today.
No planes in His time, No cars, No phones, No Television, Abortion? Divorce? Evolution taught in Schools. I could go on.
Father William Doyle celebrated Mass at D’Ars. Now there is a true candidate for the Altars!
LikeLike