Patron of Priestly Perfection

From childhood John Mary Vianney gave himself to souls, instructing other boys in the use of the Rosary and guiding the poor to his father's house where he would assist them in their necessities. Sent to Ecully to be educated for the priesthood, he struggled in his studies but was able to complete the course in theology through divine assistance, the intercession of St. Francis Regis, prayer and penance. Assigned to the village of Ars to enkindle there the love of God, he found it in a pitiable state and resolved to personally expiate the people's sins by corporal mortification, fasting and prayer. When not offering himself as a victim for sin, he was offering others pardon, peace and penance during long hours in the confessional. Away from the seat of God's mercy, he gave counsel and instruction, visited the poor and sick, founded an orphanage for destitute girls, established pious sodalities dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and Blessed Virgin Mary, and preached missions. The sanctity of his own life and thousands of souls he was saving led the Devil himself to assault St. John first by mere annoyances and then in open combat, causing the saint to suffer serious injuries. Finally after forty years of labouring for souls, he was called to receive his eternal reward aged seventy-three.

Omnipotens et misericors Deus, qui sanctum Joannem Mari­am pastorali studio et jugi orationis ac poenitentiae ardore mirabilem effeca­sti : da, quaesumus, ut ejus exemplo et intercessione, animas fratrum lucrari Christo, et cum eis aeternam gloriam consequi valeamus. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.