St. John Vianney ministered in the village of Ars, France, during the first half of the 19th century. Deeply mystical and spiritual, he relentlessly summoned pilgrims and parishioners alike to greater intimacy with Christ and complete reliance on His mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation. He endured many setbacks in his pursuit of the Priesthood and his ministry to the people of Ars. Upon first arriving in that village in France, he found a lifeless church in near-ruin and a generation of people who had abandoned the substance and practice of their faith.
He would not relent. “It was this attribute of perseverance which, coupled with a burning desire to convert hearts, was at the core of Vianney’s entire life and ministry. St. John Vianney was consumed with the desire to convert hearts, save souls, offer the Eucharist and free people from their sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. Read more