The Roman Catholic Church marks Thursday, Aug. 4, the feast day of Saint John Vianney (Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney), the revered patron saint of priests and model of all parochial clergy.
Aug. 4 marks his 163rd death anniversary.
At the St. John Vianney Church in Barangay Cembo, Makati City, the seventh of the nine-day novena masses that began last July 29 will be offered. The fiesta mass will be celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. to coincide with the 20th parish fiesta. It will be presided over by Monsignor Gerry Santos.
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, ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession. He heard confessions for at least 16 hours a day that helped enrich the spiritual life of the community 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 on Augu.4, 1859 at the age of 73 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.