Dear Friends in Christ,

Can you believe that it is already August? It seems not too long ago that we were in the Season of Lent as we prepared for the celebration of Easter. Now as Summer quickly moves past us and we make our plans to return to school, our lives will become full with busy schedules, exciting plans, and grand goals that we will set for ourselves. With our lives rapidly gaining momentum for the new school year, perhaps some of us are looking forward to these routines, but perhaps there are some of us who are dreading the thought of school. For those who are anxious about the thought of studies, you are not alone.

This week, I invite us to ponder the life of a Saint who himself struggled in school and his studies, but persevered through his difficulties to become one of the holiest priests we have seen in the history of the Church. The Saint that I am referring to is the priest, St. John Marie Vianney, whom we will celebrate this week on August 4th. While there have been many Saint-priests who have given their lives to Jesus to the point of dying for their Faith as a martyr, St. John Marie Vianney lived a simple life of holiness in a small town in France, ministering to thousands of souls who came to him in their need.

John Marie Vianney was born in May of 1786 in the small town of Dardilly, France, and grew up during the time of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. While many hundreds of priests and nuns were persecuted and put to death in Paris for their Faith, St. John Vianney also experienced the difficulties of learning the Faith at such a tumultuous time. When he entered into the seminary, he struggled to keep up with his studies, and he was expelled by his formators because of his lack of comprehension. However, through his simple desire to be a priest and with the generosity of his mentor, Abbé Balley, he was ordained a priest on August 12th, 1815.

After three years of priesthood, Fr. John Vianney was assigned to be the Pastor in the small town of Ars, a town that had a population of 230 souls. When he arrived in the small town, he discovered that many of the inhabitants had moved away from the Faith because of the effects of the French Revolution. As many people ridiculed Fr. John Vianney for his lack of knowledge and his criticism of their worldly practices, he responded to their rejection by encouraging them to encounter Jesus in the Sacrament of Confession with him. Not only was he a patient and holy confessor, but he also helped establish a home for women who had been exploited by men and left without a home.

As we celebrate this holy Saint, we are reminded that holiness is not just for those who are wise and smart, but for those who sincerely wish to follow God's will in their lives. St. John Vianney became the patron Saint of all priests because he wished to love as Jesus loves in a radical way. I pray that all of us can follow his example of simple holiness in our lives.

May Christ’s peace be with you,

Father Briggs