Roman Inc - Saint John Vianney - Patron Saint of Priests

ROMAN INC - SAINT JOHN VIANNEY - PATRON SAINT OF PRIESTS

Figurine comes nicely displayed in a box with a front window, with a prayer on the front and the story of the Saint on the back, and a prayer card inside.

"Prayer of Saint John Vianney:
I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord, and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally. My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath."

Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney was born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France. He was the fourth of six children in a devout farming family. He grew up during the French Revolution when priests were forced to work in secrecy to face execution. To John they were heroes, and he wanted to be like them. He worked on the family farm until he was 20 and then began his studies for the priesthood. School did not come easily to him, and it was only after many struggles and difficulties that he was ordained in 1815.
He was appointed pastor of the village of Ars, a small sleepy town with a religiously lax population of 230. As parish priest, Fr. Vianney realized that the aftermath of the French Revolution had resulted in religious ignorance and indifference. He began to reach out to people, preached simple but effective homilies, and undertook sacrifice and prayer for his people. But his genius was in the confessional. Ars and the surrounding countryside started to experience a spiritual revival, and his reputation for holiness started to spread. In 1827, pilgrims started to travel to his confessional. Within 30 years, he received up to 20,000 pilgrims each year. During the last 10 years of his life he spent 16 to 19 hours a day in the confessional.
Father Vianney, exhausted by his labors and his penance, returned his soul to God in 1859 at the age of 73. He was canonized in 1925. His body remains incorrupt to this day and can be seen in the Basilique d'Ars.

Feast Day: August 4

Material: Resin, Stone Mix
Dimensions: Approx. H 9.5cm x W 3.8cm