Roman Catholics mark August 4 the feast day of Saint John Vianney (Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney), the patron saint of priests and model of all parochial clergy.
August 4 marks his 161st death anniversary.
At the St. John Vianney Church in Barangay Cembo, Makati City, a high mass was held at 6 p.m. in his honor last Sunday, August 2. It was streamed live from the church where only a few parishioners were allowed to occupy 10 percent of its capacity.
Popularly known as the Cure of Ars, St. John served as the parish priest of Ars, a remote village in France, where he converted many to the Catholic faith through his pastoral work, saintly life, and persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession. He heard confessions for at least 16 hours a day that helped transform the community spiritually after many years of religious ignorance.
According to accounts, pilgrims from distant places even traveled to Ars to listen to his sermons that every year, he was receiving more than 20,000 visitors.
Born on May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, France, St. John was ordained priest in 1815 and began his service as parish priest of Ars in 1818. He died in 1859 and was canonized on May 31, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI declared St. John as the patron of all priests of the world.