ST. JEAN-BAPTISTE MARIE VIANNEY, The CURÈ OF ARS (1786 -1859)
Jean-Baptiste
Vianney was born on 8 May 1786, in the French town of Dardilly,
France near Lyon, and was baptised the same day. His parents,
Matthieu Vianney and his wife Marie (Belize), had six children, of
whom John was the fourth. The Vianneys were devout Catholics who
helped the poor and gave hospitality to St. Benedict Joseph Labre,
the patron saint of the homeless, who passed through Dardilly on his
pilgrimage to Rome.
By 1790, the
anticlerical Reign of Terror during the French Revolution forced many
loyal priests to hide from the regime in order to carry out their
duties in their parish. Eventhough it had been declared illegal to
attend services held by priests loyal to Rome, the Vianneys travelled
to distant farms to attend Masses celebrated by priests on the run.
Realizing that such priests risked their lives day by day, Vianney
began to look upon them as heroes. He received his First Communion
catechism instructions in a private home by two nuns whose
communities had been dissolved during the Revolution. He made his
First Communion at the age of 13. During the Mass, the windows were
covered so that the light of the candles could not be seen from the
outside. His practice of the faith continued in secret, especially
during his preparation for confirmation.
The Catholic
Church was re-established in France in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte,
resulting in religious peace throughout the country, culminating in a
Concordat. By this time, St. Vianney was concerned about his future
vocation and longed for an education. He was 20 when his father
allowed him to leave the farm to be taught at a "presbytery-school"
in the neighbouring village of Écully, conducted by the Abbé
Balley. St. Vianney struggled with school, especially with Latin,
since his past education had been interrupted by the French
Revolution. Only because of St. Vianney's deepest desire to be a
priest and Balley's patience did he persevere.
St.
Vianney's studies were interrupted in 1809 when he was drafted into
Napoleon's armies. He would have been exempt, as an ecclesiastical
student, but Napoleon had withdrawn the exemption in certain dioceses
because of his need for soldiers in his fight against Spain. Two
days after he had to report at Lyons, he became ill and was
hospitalized, during which time his draft left without him. Once
released from the hospital, on 5 January, he was sent to Roanne for
another draft. He went into a church to pray, and fell behind the
group. He met a young man who volunteered to guide him back to his
group, but instead led him deep into the mountains of Le Forez, to
the village of Les Noes, where deserters had gathered. Viewing this
as a sign from Divine Providence, St. Vianney lived there for
fourteen months, hidden in the byre attached to a farmhouse, and
under the care of Claudine Fayot, a widow with four children. He
assumed the name Jerome Vincent, and under that name, he opened a
school for village children. Since the harsh weather isolated the
town during the winter, the deserters were safe from gendarmes.
However, after the snow melted, gendarmes came to the town
constantly, searching for deserters. During these searches, St.
Vianney hid inside stacks of fermenting hay in Fayot's barn.
An imperial
proclamation in March 1810 granted amnesty to all deserters, enabling
St. Vianney to return legally to Écully, where he resumed his
studies. He was tonsured in 1811, and in 1812 he went to the minor
seminary at Verrières-en-Forez. In autumn of 1813, he was sent to
the major seminary at Lyons. Considered too slow, he was returned to
Abbé Balley. However, Balley persuaded the Vicar general that St.
Vianney's piety was great enough to compensate for his ignorance, and
the seminarian received minor orders and the subdiaconate on 2 July
1814, was ordained a deacon in June 1815, and was ordained priest on
12 August 1815 in the Couvent des Minimes de Grenoble. He said his
first Mass the next day, and was appointed the assistant to Balley in
Écully.
In 1818,
shortly after the death of Balley, St. Vianney was appointed parish
priest of the parish of Ars, a town of 230 inhabitants. With
Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La
Providence, a home for girls.
As parish
priest, St. Vianney realized that the Revolution's aftermath had
resulted in religious ignorance and indifference, due to the
devastation wrought on the Catholic Church in France. At the time,
Sundays in rural areas were spent working in the fields, or dancing
and drinking in taverns. St. Vianney spent time in the confessional
and gave homilies against blasphemy and immoral dancing. He also
went so far as to place a picture of St. John the Baptist in the
church with the warning: “His head was the price of a dance.”
If his parishioners did not give up this dancing, he refused them
absolution.
St. Vianney
was so concerned with the salvation and spiritual life of his
parishioners, he spent his health on severe fasts, prayer and bodily
mortifications, which through the years achieved miraculous results.
His spiritual gifts became noticeable. He received visions, and
his prayers were miraculously answered, such as the miraculous
appearance of wheat in the attic to feed the school children when
their own supply ran out. He was also attacked by the devil many
times, and, was witnessed experiencing the gift of levitation at
Mass.
However, his
most important gift was the discernment of souls, people from distant
places began travelling for confession to him, and to consult him
regarding their spiritual life and vocations as early as 1827. By
1855, the number of pilgrims had reached 20,000 a year. During the
last ten years of his life, he spent 16 to 18 hours a day in the
confessional. Even the bishop forbade him to attend the annual
retreats of the diocesan clergy because of the souls awaiting him.
He spent at least 11 or 12 hours a day in the confessional during
winter, and up to 16 in the summer.
St. Vianney
had a great devotion to St. Philomena and helped spread devotion to
her. St. Vianney regarded her as his guardian and erected a chapel
and shrine in honour of the saint. He would often send people to the
shrine to pray for the miracles they were requesting from him. In
the end, when miraculous requests were granted, people didn't know
whether or not it was due to his intercession or to St. Philomena's
since he always gave credit to St. Philomena. No doubt he was
trying to redirect any attention away from him! During May 1843,
St. Vianney fell so ill he thought that his life was coming to its
end. He was healed, and attributed his cure to her intercession.
St. Vianney yearned for the contemplative life of a monk, and four
times ran away from Ars, the last time in 1853. He was a champion of
the poor as a Franciscan tertiary and was a recipient of the French
Legion of Honour although in humility he never accepted nor wore the
medal.
On 4 August
1859, Vianney died at the age of 73. The bishop presided over his
funeral with 300 priests and more than 6,000 people in attendance.
On 3 October
1874 Pope Pius IX proclaimed him venerable; on 8 January 1905, Pope
Pius X declared him Blessed and proposed him as a model to the
parochial clergy. In 1925 he was canonized by Pope Pius XI, who in
1929 made him patron saint of parish priests. In 1928 his feast day
was inserted into the General Roman Calendar for celebration on 9
August. Pope John XXIII's 1960 revision, in which the Vigil of Saint
Lawrence had a high rank, moved the feast to 8 August. Finally, the
1969 revision placed it on 4 August, the day of his death.
St. Vianney
is also had the gift of prophecy.
The Cure of Ars
made these predictions for the future:
“The priest of Ars announced the reconstruction of the chapel of Notre Dame de Fourviere on a plan and proportions more worthy of this famous pilgrimage, saying that this reconstruction will take place following major calamities that will occur in the country.”
“The priest of Ars announced the reconstruction of the chapel of Notre Dame de Fourviere on a plan and proportions more worthy of this famous pilgrimage, saying that this reconstruction will take place following major calamities that will occur in the country.”
(NOTE: this
came to pass after the devastating Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the
Siege of Paris, and and the Communard uprising of 1871.)
On May 14, 1854, the bishop of Birmingham published a conversation he had with the Curé d'Ars.
While complaining about the difficulties Catholics face in his country, he replied:
"But, Monseigneur, I believe that the Church of England will return to its former splendour. "
"That he believes it firmly, I can not doubt," said the Bishop, without knowing where this conviction came from.
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Prophecy about La Salette: "La Salette will do more and more good. It will always be better and better, and throughout the universe.
(NOTE: Of
interest, St. Vianney had a problem with La Salette after meeting the
seer Maximin Giraud in September 1850 who in a strange petulant mood
made flippant obscure answers, which led St. Vianney to believe he
had told lies about the apparition and what really happened. After
this meeting Maximin he stopped recommending La Salette, even when it was approved by the local bishop in 1851. It was only
when he received a signal grace of confirmation in its authenticity years later did St. Vianney begin promoting La Salette once again. Forthe story of La Salette, and the 'Scandal of Ars' incident, clickhere.)
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A Great
Monarch Prophecy?
There is
question over the next set of prophecies regarding the wars in France
– it was noted The Curé of Ars did not make many prophecies,
especially political ones, and, he himself seemed to purposely keep
himself aloof from such affairs. However, according to certain
accounts, he foretold France would be invaded, and that peace would
be restored when the Great King returns.
The source
of these particular prophecies has been accredited to an anonymous
lay brother of the Lazarist order who claimed to have met the Curé
of Ars twice, and that it was during these two interviews just before
his death in August 1859 that the Curé gave him the following
prophecies.
These
prophecies made their first appearance in two publications entitled
“Le Grand Pape et le Grand Roi”, and “Le Prochain Dénouement
de la Crise actuelle” by Ven. Pére Marie-Antoine Lavaur
(1825-1907), known as the 'Saint of Toulouse'. The Abbé Curique
also reprinted the prophecies in his book 'Voix Prophétiques' , more
details appearing with each new edition of his book as he claimed to
receive more details from the Lazarists themselves on the anonymous
lay brother's claims. (Source: Herbert Thurston, S.J. 'The War and
the Prophets', 1915, pp. 35-36, 38.)
I've looked up Ven. Pére Marie-Antoine's account, and he declares the lay brother was a peasant from Rodez who went to visit the Curé in order to discern his vocation, that it was the Cur'e who told him to enter the Lazarist order.
I've looked up Ven. Pére Marie-Antoine's account, and he declares the lay brother was a peasant from Rodez who went to visit the Curé in order to discern his vocation, that it was the Cur'e who told him to enter the Lazarist order.
It has been
questioned whether these are fake as there is no other early
documentary proof the Lazarist lay brother even existed other than
the publications of Ven. Pére Marie-Antoine. Also, if they lay
brother existed, did he add his own details? Or, where they real as
the Abbé Curique claimed he in fact received more information about
the prophecies from the Lazarists?
The
prophecies seem to point first to the Franco Prussian war, and then,
the rest seem unfilled. It is because of this that prophecies are
considered fake, but we also have to take into account the astounding
prophecies of Marie-Julie Jahenny who affirmed God was prepared to
send the King at that point in time, but then he was 'removed' as the
first chastisement since France proved unworthy to receive him then
– the great peace was therefore delayed until a further time.
Also, the
prophecies of Marie-Julie bear a striking resemblance to the
prophecies given below – so, there still remains the possibility
the prophecies attributed to the Curé are in fact true.
Therefore, I
have included them with a double “??” in order to leave it to the
discernment of the reader. Notes and Observations will be included.
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A
Prophecy of a WAR / Invasion - this is one version of the
text.
"At that time, the French will be divided into two parties, one against the other. "
"One will not be converted, one will be punished, but one will not be converted, and then there will be an interval; and then, they will come back (the enemies) "
"They will ask more or something, and they will come back"
"The enemies will not go away, they will come back again and they will destroy everything in their path, we will not resist them. "
"It will perish many people, more than the first time, because we will not be converted"
"And there will be many homes destroyed"
"They will destroy, they will destroy. There will be many good ones that will perish. But those, how happy they will be! Oh ! How happy they will be! "
"The big deal has not happened. Paris will be demolished and burned down.
Not entirely, however.
The enemies will let Paris burn and they will be happy. "
"But there is going to be a limit that destruction will not cross. The House of the Brothers of the Christian Doctrine will not be demolished, whatever it may be on the path of destruction. "
"Paris will be changed and also two or three other cities. But there will be far more terrible things than we have seen. "
"They (the enemies) will even want to kill all priests and religious. It will not be long. It will be believed that all is lost and God will save everything. It will be a sign of the last judgement.
After this affair, this big blow, things will work well. "
"God, then, will help, the good ones will triumph, when the return of the Great King is announced. he will restore peace and unparalleled prosperity. Religion will flourish more than ever. "
"They (the enemies) will arrive near Poitiers without finding any resistance; but there, they will be crushed by the defenders of the West who will pursue them.
We will beat them, we will chase them for good. The first time, they will not have fought well; but this time, they will fight! Oh ! How they will fight!
After that, they will cut off the food and will make them suffer great losses.
They will retire to their countries; they will be accompanied, and hardly any will return; then we will take back all that they have removed and even more.
(NOTE: as mentioned, these prophecies bear a striking resemblance to
the events of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 when France lost the
Alsace-Lorraine region to the German Empire, and also the Prussian
(German) invasion of France and the Siege of Paris 1870-1871, where
the food supplies were cut and the citizens of Paris starved. Also
the communist Communards rose up and started an internal civil
conflict against the provisionary French Government, which was
eventually quelled but not until several horrors had been committed,
such as the killing of hostages by the Communards, including the
Archbishop of Paris, Georges Darboy in 1871. Also, Paris was
partially burned. Several famous buildings were among those torched.
Hence, we see why Paris would be burned, but not destroyed here
according to the Curé. The Communard uprising was finally quelled
during 'Bloody Week' at the end of May, 1871. France fought the
Germans again in WWI and regained all their lost territories of
Alsace and Lorraine in 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
So, if these prophecies are real, the Curé may have been predicting
the Franco-Prussian War and WWI.
However, since
there is not yet a return of the Great King and the promised 'great
flourishing of religion' has not yet been seen, it is obvious the
prophecy is not yet fulfilled, there is more yet to come to pass. It
appears there will be one more invasion and civil war before the
throne of France is restored. This war will be so terrible it will be
a 'sign like the Last Judgement'. This is in accordance with other
mystics such as Marie-Julie Jahenny who foretold one last great civil
war would strike, a 'Red Revolution', the war in addition to the
signs on the earth and sky would all resemble the Day of Judgement.
There would be invading armies, and, it would happen during a 'Third
Crisis'. It will be during the 'Third Crisis' the the King will
regain his throne Marie-Julie Jahenny revealed. As we see from the
other Great Monarch prophecies in the timeline, this may happen in
our own times.)
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Second
Version of the Prophecy by the Curé of Ars - Apparently, this
was a reprint that circulated in 1914 and was we-worded. Also there
is one part that was added, the part declaring the triumph would
happen on a feast day of Our Lady – that was NOT part of the
original text according to Herbert Thurston, S. J. in 'The War and
the Prophets', p. 43.
Again, we
see reference to the events following the Franco-Prussian War of
1870. The terms 'Prussians' and 'communists' have been inserted, a
reference to the Communard uprising in Paris.
However,
since Marie-Julie Jahenny also foretold a 'Red Revolution' and that
the major chastisements would all start in Paris, this prophecy of
'communists' revolting like another Communard uprising starting in
Paris would not be far-fetched. Also the prophecy says there would
be a time when all would seem lost, but would suddenly turn around
into a victory for the right side is also part of several other Great
Catholic Monarch prophecies, so I have included the second version of
the Curé of Ars prophecy:
:::
“The
Prussians will allow the burning of Paris and will rejoice in it. But
they will be beaten and driven entirely from France. Our enemies
shall return and destroy everything in their march. They will arrive
near Poitiers without serious resistance but there they will be
crushed by the defenders of the West who will pursue them. In other
directions their provisions will be cut off and they suffer serious
losses. They will attempt to flee to their country but wont reach it.
All they took from us shall be returned and a great deal more. The
communists of Paris after this defeat will spread throughout France
and will multiply. Then they seize arms and oppress people of order.
A civil war breaks out everywhere and these wicked people become
masters in N, E, and SW of France. They imprison many persons and
massacre many. They attempt to kill all priests and religious but
this does not last. People will imagine that all is lost, but the
good God will save all. But God shall save all like a sign of the
last judgement. Paris shall be changed, also two or three other
cities; God shall come to help; the good shall triumph when the
return of the king shall be announced. This shall re-establish a
peace and prosperity without example. Religion shall flourish again
better than ever before. Paris shall be demolished and burnt in
earnest, but not entirely. Events shall transpire more terrible than
what we have seen. However there shall be a limit beyond which the
destruction shall not go. (A Great triumph will be witnessed on the
feast of Our Lady….)” (NOTE: this last sentence was added at a
LATER DATE and NOT part of the original texts, so it is not
authentic.)
