St. John Vianney: The Curé of Ars
St. John Vianney (1786–1859), known as the Curé of Ars, is the patron saint of parish priests. Assigned to the small, spiritually indifferent village of Ars, France, he transformed it into a center of pilgrimage through tireless preaching, penance, and extraordinary dedication to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Though he struggled academically and nearly failed in seminary, his perseverance, humility, and deep holiness became a powerful testimony that sanctity does not depend on intellectual brilliance but on fidelity and grace.Vianney would spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional, guiding souls with clarity, charity, and spiritual discernment. His pastoral method was direct: preach repentance, model sacrifice, and remain radically available to the faithful. By the time of his death, tens of thousands were traveling annually to Ars seeking his counsel.