Sometimes it can be difficult to do so. It was certainly a difficult assignment that Saint John Vianney received from his bishop, to be pastor of the parish in Ars. In fact, the bishop told John currents of thought which are still with us today. Saint John Vianney also lived at a time when there were also scandals within the Church and the lives of the clergy, probably the greatest hindrance to the Church's evangelizing mission, then and now. So Saint John Vianney is still an example for us almost two centuries later.

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So what did the Cure of Ars do? He regularly visited the people of his parish and was especially devoted to the sick and dying. He got to know his people and their needs. How can we tend the flock if we don't know our flock? Jesus said: "l am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me."

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Saint John Vianney knew that it was absolutely necessary to exercise faithfully the ministry of the word. How could he dispose his people to faith and conversion if they didn't know Jesus and the Gospel? Saint John Vianney said: "Our Lord, who is truth itself, considers his Word no Less important than his Body." That's why he spent a lot of time preparing his homilies. And when he preached, he did so courageously, preaching the word "in season and out of season," as Saint Paul instructed. He wasn't afraid to denounce sin and immorality even if it Vianney that there was little love of God in the parish and he was sending him there to bring the Love of God to the parish. With obedience and deep trust in God, Saint John Vianney accepted that mission.

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The practice of the faith and the moral Life was in shambles when he arrived at the village of Ars. This was in the wake of the French Revolution which had had devastating effects on the Church in France. Ars was a small village with a population of 230 people. As the Cure of Ars, John Vianney was wholeheartedly committed to his people. He prayed in these words: "Lord, grant me the conversion of my parish; I am willing to suffer whatever you wish, for my entire life!" And that's what he did, for 41 years! How did he do it?

 

Today, we might say: "what was his strategic plan, his pastoral plan?" How would he bring the love of God to that parish? We priests can all ask ourselves that question: how will we live our priesthood? How will we serve the mission of the new evangelization in our culture with all the new challenges we face - secularism, widespread relativism, materialism, and individualism, not to mention the ever-new challenges associated with technology, including artificial intelligence? Saint John Vianney had to deal with the challenges associated with the so-called Enlightenment: rationalism and scientism, might offend people and be rejected by them. At the same time, he focused more on virtue than on vice, on God's tenderness and mercy and the joy of converting from sin and being united to God.

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Saint John Vianney was also deeply committed to the ministry of catechesis throughout his 41 years as pastor. In fact, he took breaks from the long hours he would hear confessions every day to give daily catechesis to the children, and he would offer catechism for the adults every Sunday before Vespers. As the years went on, he enlisted Lay people to serve as catechists, but he never entirely delegated this responsibility.

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Saint John Vianney's preaching and teaching the faith would never have brought conversion and renewal to the parish of Ars if not for his own example of holiness. He lived what he preached and taught. He lived the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience in an exemplary way.

 

I already mentioned John Vianney's following Saint Peter's exhortation to tend the flock of God in his midst, not by constraint but willingly. He was obedient to his bishop and did not have to be constrained or forced to tend the flock, however, because of his humility, he had to be somewhat constrained by his bishop to accept an honor that was bestowed on him. Sound familiar? I've never had to constrain Father Tom to tend the flocks I have assigned to him, but I did have to constrain him a bit to accept this honor this evening. His priest friends had to convince him that his becoming a monsignor was good for his parish, our priests, and our diocese.

 

Father Tom, I invite you to learn from Saint John Vianney. When he, with some difficulty, accepted the honors he received, though he felt unworthy to receive them, he actually grew in humility. This is rather paradoxical. He was inspired to even greater self-sacrifice and self-renunciation. It kind of reminds me of when a bishop is named a cardinal. It's quite an honor, but as recent popes have reminded new cardinals: their hats and cassocks are red, not because they have become princes of the Church, but because red is the color of blood. In becoming cardinals, they are to be even more self-giving, even to the point of shedding their blood for Christ as martyrs.

 

Father Tom, in being named a Chaplain of His Holiness, you are being called to greater holiness, to continue to grow in priestly virtues. You are called to be even more resolute in taking up the cross as a disciple and priest of Jesus Christ. This is what honors are about in the Church, quite unlike worldly honors. It was Saint John Vianney's witness of holiness that ultimately led to the conversion of his parish and eventually led to tens of thousands of people flocking to Ars as the years went by.

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No strategic plan will be successful, and no pastoral plan will bear fruit without God's grace, without prayer and sacrifice, without the witness of the Christian virtues which were lived in a heroic manner by the Cure of Ars, In Church history, we see that, in every genuine renewal of the Church, there were saints and martyrs who led the way. The conversion and renewal of the Church in France in the 19th century would never have happened without holy men and women like Saint John Vianney and Saint Therese of Lisieux, both of whom were canonized in 1925, 100 years ago this year.

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As you know, Saint John Vianney was renowned as a confessor. This was key to the conversion of his parish. ALI his priestly life and all his strength was dedicated to the conversion of sinners, above all, in the sacrament of Reconciliation. He often dedicated ten hours a day to hearing confessions, and sometimes 15 or 16 hours. We priests can hardly imagine how exhausting that must have been. And not only that, he himself suffered from the sins confessed and even more when there was lack of repentance. To indifferent penitents, he famously said: "l weep because you do not weep." He tried to waken them to the love of God and sincere repentance. He wanted his people to experience the true joy and peace, the beauty, of God's love and mercy. He was able to awaken repentance in the hearts of many lukewarm Catholics. Ars became what has been called "a great hospital of souls." Thousands traveled there to go to confession to the Cure of Ars.

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In reconciling so many people to God, Saint John Vianney was leading them to participation in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist was the very center of his spiritual life and pastoral work. He famously said: "All good works put together are not equivalent to the Sacrifice of the Mass, because they are the works of men, while the Holy Mass is the work of God." The Eucharist was the great joy and comfort of his priestly life. He celebrated Mass with great reverence and attentiveness, and he spent many hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. He once remarked that "the cause of priestly laxity is not paying attention to the Mass." Celebrating the Mass was never merely something routine for him.

It was a true encounter with the Lord and a true participation in His sacrifice. Attendance and active participation in Holy Mass grew strong in Ars because of the example of their holy pastor.

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Finally, this homily would not be complete without mentioning Saint John Vianney's devotion to Our Lady. He was greatly devoted to her Immaculate Conception and dedicated his parish church to Our Lady Conceived without Sin. Of course, she is the patroness of our diocese under her title as the Immaculate Conception. He had a truly intimate relationship with our Blessed Mother. My brother priests, like Saint John Vianney, may we have frequent recourse to our Blessed Mother with tender affection and total confidence!

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Saint John Marie Vianney continues to be an ever-relevant model for us priests. May his memory inspire Father Tom and all of us to greater zeal and devotion! May he intercede for all priests throughout the world and for the genuine renewal of the Church in our time!