St. John Maria Vianney Unit

  FEAST DAY: 04th August

ean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), commonlyknown in English as St John Vianney, was a French parish priest who inthe Catholic Church is venerated as a saint and as the patron saint of allpriests. He became internationally notable for his priestly and pastoralwork in his parish because of the radical spiritual transformation of thecommunity and its surroundings. Catholics attribute this to his saintly life,mortification, his persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession,and his ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Philomena.Vianney was born on 8 May 1786, in the French town of Dardilly, andwas baptized the same day. His parents, Matthieu Vianney and MarieBeluze, had six children, of whom John was the fourth. The Vianneyswere Catholics who helped the poor and gave hospitality to SaintBenedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of tramps, who passed throughDardilly on his pilgrimage to Rome.On 4 August 1859, Vianney died at age 73. The bishop presided overhis funeral with 300 priests and more than 6,000 people in attendance.Statue of Jean-Marie Vianney in the church of a small village in France.Before he was buried Vianney was fitted with a wax mask.[10]Biographers recorded miracles performed throughout his life, obtainingmoney for his charities and food for his orphans; he had supernaturalknowledge of the past and future, and could heal the sick, especiallychildren.