Listening with the Heart of Christ – Weekday Homily Video

Today’s saint, John Vianney, best known as the Cure of Ars, must have found consolation in today’s gospel, where Jesus is rejected by His own in his native Nazareth.

Of course, a different set of circumstances, but if our Lord can be rejected, then it’s not hard to understand how people make mistakes in dismissing people as not relevant or not good enough. Today’s saint was incorrectly rejected, but it did not deter him.

Proving Them Wrong

Growing up on a farm like a young Patrick Peyton, John Vianney did not receive a good education. And so, he struggled in Latin, the language which seminary exams were given. As a result, many of his professors thought he was unintelligent and held little hope of him being able to serve as a priest.

The opposite was true. The Cure of Ars had tremendous wisdom and moral aptitude. He was a gifted preacher, shepherd, and confessor.

Some of his most famous sayings were:

• “You must accept your cross. If you bear it courageously, it will carry you to heaven.” (Redemptive and Sacrificial Courage and Love)
• “The way to destroy bad habits is by watchfulness and by doing often those things that are the opposites to one’s besetting sins.” (The habit of vigilance and doing of virtue thereby overcoming vice.)

The Converter of Souls

St. Vianney is perhaps best known as the priest who converted souls both within the Confessional but first, he led many from the pubs to want to confess their sins and receive the Eucharist worthily.

He began by convincing most of the 230 residents of Ars to return to Sunday Mass. His preaching and authentic belief in Jesus Christ as evidenced by how he spoke and conducted his daily life persuaded even the most cynical man or woman, as well as children, to believe in a loving God and a better way of life.

As often as I sit in the Confessional, neither my brother priests nor I will approach the number of Confessions heard by the Cure of Ars. As word spread that he could read their souls, to see their sins and their future, more and more people journeyed to have this holy priest act in the person of Christ and give them penance and absolve their sins.

Each day, hundreds of people would arrive by train, and Father Vianney would hear Confessions for twelve to sixteen hours per day. Let me tell you, this was heroic both from a physical and spiritual perspective. For to rightly hear Confessions is to listen carefully to each person and give them the spiritual medicine that is best for them. There is no spreadsheet or universal penance list; simply a priest listening with the heart of Christ and the Holy Spirit and speaking in Jesus’ Name.

Truth in Love

St. John acted with great fidelity to the Commandments and, at the same time, with gentleness. He taught “the truth in love,” as St. Paul would say. You know, a priest must have the zeal for souls to give so entirely of himself for the totality of his priesthood, and like Father Peyton, St. John Vianney did in a fruitful and inspirational way.

He also had a heart for orphans and, when not in the Confessional, would rescue and find homes for abandoned children, often going repeatedly to his friends’ homes. When one person said that there wasn’t a bed left, Father Vianney replied, “There’s always yours.”

You can only say that when you are giving so fully to others in Christ’s Name.

I’d like to leave you with the wise advice of the Cure of Ars, who said, “Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God.”

St. John Vianney, pray for us!

• Today’s Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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