Today is the memorial of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests. When we think about his incredible pastoral work, we can forget that the Bishop had exiled him to a town with only 230 inhabitants. As the story goes he got lost trying to find the place. That was 1818. By 1855, 20,000 pilgrims per year were going to see him. He would spend as much as 16 hours in a day hearing confessions.
I am sure as I write this that there are priests not only in this diocese but all over the world who feel as if they have been exiled to some far flung forgotten corner. Some will become angry, some depressed. Priests are human beings after all.
On this memorial of St. John Vianney, let us pray in a special way for the priests who are struggling that through the intercession of St. John they may truly come to understand that no matter how humble their assignment may appear, with the assistance of God's grace, and a resolve to do God's will they can go great things.
Posted with Blogsy
