July 27 to August 4
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs holds an annual Novena to Honor St. John Vianney, starting every year on July 27 and concluding on the saint’s official feast day on August 4. Please recite the daily novena prayers and ask for the intercession of St. John Vianney to bless our diocese with good parish priests.
About St. John Vianney: Feast Day, August 4
St. John Vianney—patron of priests worldwide and universally known as the “Curé [Priest] of Ars”—was born on May 8, 1786 in the village of Dardilly, France. After serving a short time in the army during the Napoleonic period he entered a seminary to become a priest. He had a difficult time, particularly with Latin. His formation directors and instructors in the seminary had serious doubts that this man would be suitable for the priesthood. However, John Vianney persevered and was ordained in 1815 and served as a priest in the village of Ars in France. His dedication to his calling to be a priest and to serve his people was strong. He preached in a very simple manner and had a great love of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother and a special devotion to St. Philomena. Through his work as a confessor he brought about a spiritual renewal that touched not only the people of his parish, but all of France. He spent 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional, surviving on only a few hours of sleep and a diet of boiled potatoes. As the word spread of his extraordinary abilities as a confessor, thousands made the journey to receive his spiritual counsel. He is an example of how God works wonderfully through those who dedicate their lives to him and who seek to do his will. John Vianney, a humble parish priest, is regarded by the Church as one of its great figures simply because he was faithful. John Vianney was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925. (Source: Condensed biography from the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, www.sjvroundrock.org.)
Did you know…St. John Vianney is one of the statuettes on the main altar reredos? Read more.
St. John Vianney Novena Prayer Booklet