July 26, 2025 • 15 mins
Discover the extraordinary life of Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, commonly known as St John Vianney, a French parish priest who is celebrated in the Catholic Church as a saint and the patron saint of all priests. Known fondly as the Curé dArs, his parish work led to a profound spiritual transformation in his community, making him an internationally recognized figure. His saintly life, dedicated ministry, and ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Saint Philomena were all instrumental in this transformation. This brief biography, written before his canonization in 1925, offers a stirring glimpse into the life of this much-loved saint. (Summary Adapted from Wikipedia)
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter one of the Life of Blessed Jean Baptiste Marie Vianni,
Cuiree of RS. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Ed Humpel,
(00:22):
The Life of Blessed Jean b Marie Vianni, Cairee of
RS by anonymous Chapter one, Childhood and youth of the
saintly Curee Jean Baptiste Marie Vienni, afterwards to become famous
as the Cure of Ours. Was born May eighth, seventeen
(00:43):
eighty six at Dardilli, in the south of France, not
far from the city of Leon, and was the fourth
child of humble country folks. His father, Matthew Vienni, and
his mother, Marie Belous, possessed some land a joining their
simple dwelling. Despite the fact that they were not rich,
(01:04):
they practiced the greatest hospitality toward the poor and needy.
With joyful wonder the youthful Jean beheld evening after evening
a number of poor and needy wayfarers entertained at the
family meal. Not infrequently the elder Vienni would bestow his
own share upon some belated arrival. This noble example made
(01:26):
a profound impression upon the boy's pious disposition of his
own accord. He would go out to greet the needy travelers,
opening the door for them and otherwise assisting them, and
would even carry their torn garments to his mother in
order that she might mend them by other kindly service.
He showed his sympathy with the poor and distress who
(01:48):
made their way to his father's house. Jean had imbibed
a love of piety with his mother's milk. The names
of Jesus and Mary were the very first words to
pass his baby lips. The first movement of his little hands,
taught him by his mother, was to make the sign
of the Cross. Even as a child of four or
(02:09):
five years, Jean would retire to a place of solitude,
where as the record says he spoke with the angel Guardian.
As he grew up, he occupied himself with the work
of the farm, minding the cattle and doing other humble work.
When in after years his name was mentioned with pious
admiration by numberless Christians, Father Vienni was wont to recall
(02:32):
his early years, saying, how happy was I when I
had only to care for my three sheep and my donkey.
Then indeed I could pray to God according to my
heart's desire. Just as the boy arrived at the age
of reason, the churches of France, in consequence of the
outbreak of the revolution, were closed and the priests banished.
(02:56):
This was a severe trial for so devout a child,
for at that early age he was sensible of the
high importance of the Apostolic teaching, and in his eagerness
to promote the love of God, he gathered the village
children about him and preached impressive sermons to them. In
his simple but earnest way. The young missionary became acquainted
(03:18):
in those evil days with many worthy priests, men who
counted the threats and fury of the revolutionary heroes as
nothing when it was a question of saving souls, and
so unnoticed. The fervent desire took possession of the boy's
soul that he might one day be a priest and
work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
(03:39):
It was during those darkest hours for the church in
France that Jean, with a number of other children met
in private to be prepared for the reception of his
first Holy Communion With What holy rapture did he approach
the table of the Lord. That event was ever held
in cherished remembrance by all who participated in it. Many
(04:00):
years elapsed from the day the youth received his first
Holy Communion to that other day when he began his
studies for the priesthood. Divine providence willed first of all
that his piety should be trained under the guidance of
his good and worthy parents. His daily work was divided
between prayer and work, or, to speak more correctly, his
(04:21):
work was a continuous prayer. The life of his divine Master,
with its miracles and sufferings, supplied him with inexhaustible material
for meditation. At the close of the day's work, and
in the company of his mother and sister Catherine, he
read the holy scriptures and the lives of the saints.
(04:42):
Being an extremely diligent and painstaking worker, and because of
his uniform meekness of character, he was a great favorite
at home as well as among companions outside, even upon
boys who took no pains to be good. Jean's purity
of heart made such an impress that they would cease
their disedifying conversation whenever he approached. Meanwhile, Jean had hoped
(05:08):
and prayed that he might become a priest, but he
completed his seventeenth year without having yet begun his education
so necessary to the fulfillment of his desire. Such a
result seemed to be all the more impossible of accomplishment,
inasmuch as his father declared point blank that he had
no money to spare for his son's education. In eighteen
(05:31):
o five, however, a ray of light appeared. The churches
were reopened. Following the conclusion of the Concordant and the
reverend Father Bailey, one of the zealous missionaries of the period,
was appointed pastor of Aculi, a village adjacent to Dardili.
One of his early works was the establishment of a
seminary for the education of youth for the priesthood. With
(05:55):
his father's approval, Jean, then nineteen years old, presented as
himself to Father Bailey. The latter had been aware for
a long time of the young man's great piety, received
him most kindly and admitted him as a student. Thus
it came about that Jean sat in class with boys
much younger than he was. Had he been under instruction sooner,
(06:19):
it would not have been so very hard for him
to learn, as he had a fair capacity for ordinary studies.
But because he was only beginning at an age when
most youths have already mastered the rudiments, his studies occasioned
him much trouble. He was slow to learn, and what
he did learn he retained only imperfectly. The study of
(06:40):
Latin was for him particularly difficult. In his need, he
turned to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Francis Regis,
the Apostle of Viveret, to whom he had been devoted
since childhood. He undertook a pilgrimage to the latter's tomb
in Leuvesque to beseech his help. His faithful confidence was rewarded,
(07:02):
and from that time on he experienced fewer difficulties in
his studies. When in after years Jean was appointed pastor
at Ours, he gratefully remembered the saint's assistance and brought
his statue into the parish church and zealously promoted devotion
to him. Hardly had Jean begun his studies when an
(07:23):
unfortunate obstacle arose. Napoleon the First, at that time, holding
the destiny of France in his hands, needed troops for
his Spanish campaign. These were raised by conscription, and notwithstanding
the pleadings of his relatives and of several influential persons,
Jean was drawn from military service. The sorrow which he
(07:45):
experienced at this sudden interruption in his studies was so
acute that he became seriously ill and had to be
taken to the hospital, first at Lyon and later at Roan,
the troops, meantime having departed for the pyrene As a
matter of fact, it came about that, after a long
absence from home, Jean was enabled to return to his
(08:07):
native village without having performed any actual military services. In
eighteen twelve, after close application to his studies, Jean was
so advanced as to be permitted to commence the study
of philosophy at Veriere. He was now in his twenty
seventh year, and there found himself one of two hundred pupils,
(08:29):
all younger than he. Another bitter trial now awaited him.
For a few weeks afterwards, he was declared disqualified to
take the course in philosophy In the Latin tongue, and
with six other students he had to attend this course
in the French language. Not infrequently he was made the
butt of his fellow students ridicule, yet he was never
(08:51):
aroused to anger. Instead, these annoyances only served to increase
his acts of devotion. Still greater trials, however, were in
store for him. Before being admitted into the Great Seminary
of Leon to make his preparation for Holy orders, he
was required to submit to an examination in philosophy. This
(09:12):
took place in the presence of the Archbishop and his council.
When the questions presented in Latin were put to him,
his memory wholly failed, and in sheer confusion he could
answer nothing, so over awed was he by the presence
of the distinguished visitors. Accordingly, he alone, of all the candidates,
was dismissed as unfit to enter the seminary. Imagine how
(09:36):
hard a blow this must have been to Jean. All
his work of the preceding eight years appeared to have
been unsuccessful. At that time of trial, Vienni's confidence in
God remained unshaken, and he was rewarded by finding a
friend in the person of his old pastor Father Bailey,
who better acquainted with the character and qualifications of his protegee,
(10:00):
induced the authorities to examine Jean privately the following day.
This examination was held before the Vicar General of the
Archdiocese and the Region of the Theological Seminary, and was
so satisfactory that Jean was now permitted to enter the
seminary for the course of theology in eighteen fourteen. As
(10:21):
an inmate of the seminary, his career was remarkable more
for the piety of his life than for the brilliancy
of his intellect. The region, however, who recognized Vienne's sterling worth,
gave him for his room mate a fellow student of
marked ability, who took pains to assist Viennie in his studies,
and thus aided Jean advanced towards the time of his ordination.
(10:45):
At that time eighteen fourteen, there was a great need
of priests, and for this reason it was planned that
Vienni with other alumni, should receive subdeacon's orders in the
approaching month of July. But the authorities hesitated. How could
they admit to the higher orders one so poorly qualified.
This question, the Vicar General saw fit to settle for himself,
(11:09):
and after examining Vienni thoroughly, he announced with complacency, you
know as much as many a country pastor. The Vicar General, however,
had previously conferred with the superior of the seminary and
had asked him, is young Viennie pious? Is he devoted
to the blessed Virgin? The authorities were able to assure
(11:30):
him fully upon these points, then said the Vicar General,
I will receive him. Divine grace will do the rest. Thus,
on July second, eighteen fourteen, Vienni received subdeacon's orders, and
about twelve months later those of deacon. In August of
the year eighteen fifteen, he was raised to the dignity
(11:52):
of the priesthood by the Bishop of Grenoble, representing the
Archbishop of Lyon, who was at that time in Rome.
Vienni was then twenty nine years old. The bishop had
expressed the hope that the newly ordained would prove to
be an efficient laborer in the master's vineyard. Divine Providence, however,
had much more than this in store for the newly
(12:14):
consecrated priest, for he was to become a model whom
the Holy Church was one day to present to the
entire clergy of the Catholic world for imitation. The blessed Vienne,
in his humility, constantly realized and lamented his imperfections. The
sublime ideals of the priesthood, and in particular those of
(12:35):
a pastor charged with the care of souls living in
the world, were ever present to him. Later in life,
he declared that a true pastor should ever be guided
by two principles. One, he should never permit himself to
think that he can accomplish nothing in his parish, no
matter for how long a time his efforts may have
appeared unfruitful. And two, he should never consider that he
(13:00):
has done enough, no matter how much he may have accomplished.
In order to perfect himself, Father Viennie took another course
in moral theology from the pious and experienced Father Bailey.
To him, Jean Baptiste Vienni was appointed vicar. He lived
with him in the parish house and took a zealous
(13:21):
part in his pastor's practices and mortifications. They read the
Breviary together, and during the day frequently united in expressions
of ardent love to the Good God. Together they spent
hours at a time in adoration before the tabernacle. In
company with his pastor, Father Viennie took his scanty meal
(13:43):
and his little income passed entirely into the hands of
the poor. Articles of clothing which had been given to
him for his own use went the same way. He
was literally possessed of nothing except the clothes which he wore.
With his worthy pastor, he made daily visits to the
poor and needy of the village and neighborhood, comforting and
(14:04):
relieving them as much as possible. It took only a
short time for his old friend and pastor, Father Bailey,
to realize that he was entertaining a saint. In December
eighteen seventeen, Father Bailey was taken from his parishioners by death.
It was generally hoped that Vicar Vienni would be his successor,
(14:25):
but God had other designs. Before the question was settled,
death had removed the pastor of the little village of Ours,
who had only recently taken charge. Thereupon, the Vicar General
of the archdiocese sent Father Vienny there, saying, as he
wished him God's speed, my friend, you are going to
a small parish where a very little love of God
(14:48):
can be seen. You are now to enkindle the flame
of divine charity there most assuredly. The Vicar General, in
speaking thus, did not dream that in a few decades
the little village of ours would become a glowing hearth
of divine love, spreading its warmth over the entire country.
(15:10):
End of Chapter one
Chapter one of the Life of Blessed Jean Baptiste Marie Vianni,
Cuiree of RS. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Ed Humpel,
(00:22):
The Life of Blessed Jean b Marie Vianni, Cairee of
RS by anonymous Chapter one, Childhood and youth of the
saintly Curee Jean Baptiste Marie Vienni, afterwards to become famous
as the Cure of Ours. Was born May eighth, seventeen
(00:43):
eighty six at Dardilli, in the south of France, not
far from the city of Leon, and was the fourth
child of humble country folks. His father, Matthew Vienni, and
his mother, Marie Belous, possessed some land a joining their
simple dwelling. Despite the fact that they were not rich,
(01:04):
they practiced the greatest hospitality toward the poor and needy.
With joyful wonder the youthful Jean beheld evening after evening
a number of poor and needy wayfarers entertained at the
family meal. Not infrequently the elder Vienni would bestow his
own share upon some belated arrival. This noble example made
(01:26):
a profound impression upon the boy's pious disposition of his
own accord. He would go out to greet the needy travelers,
opening the door for them and otherwise assisting them, and
would even carry their torn garments to his mother in
order that she might mend them by other kindly service.
He showed his sympathy with the poor and distress who
(01:48):
made their way to his father's house. Jean had imbibed
a love of piety with his mother's milk. The names
of Jesus and Mary were the very first words to
pass his baby lips. The first movement of his little hands,
taught him by his mother, was to make the sign
of the Cross. Even as a child of four or
(02:09):
five years, Jean would retire to a place of solitude,
where as the record says he spoke with the angel Guardian.
As he grew up, he occupied himself with the work
of the farm, minding the cattle and doing other humble work.
When in after years his name was mentioned with pious
admiration by numberless Christians, Father Vienni was wont to recall
(02:32):
his early years, saying, how happy was I when I
had only to care for my three sheep and my donkey.
Then indeed I could pray to God according to my
heart's desire. Just as the boy arrived at the age
of reason, the churches of France, in consequence of the
outbreak of the revolution, were closed and the priests banished.
(02:56):
This was a severe trial for so devout a child,
for at that early age he was sensible of the
high importance of the Apostolic teaching, and in his eagerness
to promote the love of God, he gathered the village
children about him and preached impressive sermons to them. In
his simple but earnest way. The young missionary became acquainted
(03:18):
in those evil days with many worthy priests, men who
counted the threats and fury of the revolutionary heroes as
nothing when it was a question of saving souls, and
so unnoticed. The fervent desire took possession of the boy's
soul that he might one day be a priest and
work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
(03:39):
It was during those darkest hours for the church in
France that Jean, with a number of other children met
in private to be prepared for the reception of his
first Holy Communion With What holy rapture did he approach
the table of the Lord. That event was ever held
in cherished remembrance by all who participated in it. Many
(04:00):
years elapsed from the day the youth received his first
Holy Communion to that other day when he began his
studies for the priesthood. Divine providence willed first of all
that his piety should be trained under the guidance of
his good and worthy parents. His daily work was divided
between prayer and work, or, to speak more correctly, his
(04:21):
work was a continuous prayer. The life of his divine Master,
with its miracles and sufferings, supplied him with inexhaustible material
for meditation. At the close of the day's work, and
in the company of his mother and sister Catherine, he
read the holy scriptures and the lives of the saints.
(04:42):
Being an extremely diligent and painstaking worker, and because of
his uniform meekness of character, he was a great favorite
at home as well as among companions outside, even upon
boys who took no pains to be good. Jean's purity
of heart made such an impress that they would cease
their disedifying conversation whenever he approached. Meanwhile, Jean had hoped
(05:08):
and prayed that he might become a priest, but he
completed his seventeenth year without having yet begun his education
so necessary to the fulfillment of his desire. Such a
result seemed to be all the more impossible of accomplishment,
inasmuch as his father declared point blank that he had
no money to spare for his son's education. In eighteen
(05:31):
o five, however, a ray of light appeared. The churches
were reopened. Following the conclusion of the Concordant and the
reverend Father Bailey, one of the zealous missionaries of the period,
was appointed pastor of Aculi, a village adjacent to Dardili.
One of his early works was the establishment of a
seminary for the education of youth for the priesthood. With
(05:55):
his father's approval, Jean, then nineteen years old, presented as
himself to Father Bailey. The latter had been aware for
a long time of the young man's great piety, received
him most kindly and admitted him as a student. Thus
it came about that Jean sat in class with boys
much younger than he was. Had he been under instruction sooner,
(06:19):
it would not have been so very hard for him
to learn, as he had a fair capacity for ordinary studies.
But because he was only beginning at an age when
most youths have already mastered the rudiments, his studies occasioned
him much trouble. He was slow to learn, and what
he did learn he retained only imperfectly. The study of
(06:40):
Latin was for him particularly difficult. In his need, he
turned to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Francis Regis,
the Apostle of Viveret, to whom he had been devoted
since childhood. He undertook a pilgrimage to the latter's tomb
in Leuvesque to beseech his help. His faithful confidence was rewarded,
(07:02):
and from that time on he experienced fewer difficulties in
his studies. When in after years Jean was appointed pastor
at Ours, he gratefully remembered the saint's assistance and brought
his statue into the parish church and zealously promoted devotion
to him. Hardly had Jean begun his studies when an
(07:23):
unfortunate obstacle arose. Napoleon the First, at that time, holding
the destiny of France in his hands, needed troops for
his Spanish campaign. These were raised by conscription, and notwithstanding
the pleadings of his relatives and of several influential persons,
Jean was drawn from military service. The sorrow which he
(07:45):
experienced at this sudden interruption in his studies was so
acute that he became seriously ill and had to be
taken to the hospital, first at Lyon and later at Roan,
the troops, meantime having departed for the pyrene As a
matter of fact, it came about that, after a long
absence from home, Jean was enabled to return to his
(08:07):
native village without having performed any actual military services. In
eighteen twelve, after close application to his studies, Jean was
so advanced as to be permitted to commence the study
of philosophy at Veriere. He was now in his twenty
seventh year, and there found himself one of two hundred pupils,
(08:29):
all younger than he. Another bitter trial now awaited him.
For a few weeks afterwards, he was declared disqualified to
take the course in philosophy In the Latin tongue, and
with six other students he had to attend this course
in the French language. Not infrequently he was made the
butt of his fellow students ridicule, yet he was never
(08:51):
aroused to anger. Instead, these annoyances only served to increase
his acts of devotion. Still greater trials, however, were in
store for him. Before being admitted into the Great Seminary
of Leon to make his preparation for Holy orders, he
was required to submit to an examination in philosophy. This
(09:12):
took place in the presence of the Archbishop and his council.
When the questions presented in Latin were put to him,
his memory wholly failed, and in sheer confusion he could
answer nothing, so over awed was he by the presence
of the distinguished visitors. Accordingly, he alone, of all the candidates,
was dismissed as unfit to enter the seminary. Imagine how
(09:36):
hard a blow this must have been to Jean. All
his work of the preceding eight years appeared to have
been unsuccessful. At that time of trial, Vienni's confidence in
God remained unshaken, and he was rewarded by finding a
friend in the person of his old pastor Father Bailey,
who better acquainted with the character and qualifications of his protegee,
(10:00):
induced the authorities to examine Jean privately the following day.
This examination was held before the Vicar General of the
Archdiocese and the Region of the Theological Seminary, and was
so satisfactory that Jean was now permitted to enter the
seminary for the course of theology in eighteen fourteen. As
(10:21):
an inmate of the seminary, his career was remarkable more
for the piety of his life than for the brilliancy
of his intellect. The region, however, who recognized Vienne's sterling worth,
gave him for his room mate a fellow student of
marked ability, who took pains to assist Viennie in his studies,
and thus aided Jean advanced towards the time of his ordination.
(10:45):
At that time eighteen fourteen, there was a great need
of priests, and for this reason it was planned that
Vienni with other alumni, should receive subdeacon's orders in the
approaching month of July. But the authorities hesitated. How could
they admit to the higher orders one so poorly qualified.
This question, the Vicar General saw fit to settle for himself,
(11:09):
and after examining Vienni thoroughly, he announced with complacency, you
know as much as many a country pastor. The Vicar General, however,
had previously conferred with the superior of the seminary and
had asked him, is young Viennie pious? Is he devoted
to the blessed Virgin? The authorities were able to assure
(11:30):
him fully upon these points, then said the Vicar General,
I will receive him. Divine grace will do the rest. Thus,
on July second, eighteen fourteen, Vienni received subdeacon's orders, and
about twelve months later those of deacon. In August of
the year eighteen fifteen, he was raised to the dignity
(11:52):
of the priesthood by the Bishop of Grenoble, representing the
Archbishop of Lyon, who was at that time in Rome.
Vienni was then twenty nine years old. The bishop had
expressed the hope that the newly ordained would prove to
be an efficient laborer in the master's vineyard. Divine Providence, however,
had much more than this in store for the newly
(12:14):
consecrated priest, for he was to become a model whom
the Holy Church was one day to present to the
entire clergy of the Catholic world for imitation. The blessed Vienne,
in his humility, constantly realized and lamented his imperfections. The
sublime ideals of the priesthood, and in particular those of
(12:35):
a pastor charged with the care of souls living in
the world, were ever present to him. Later in life,
he declared that a true pastor should ever be guided
by two principles. One, he should never permit himself to
think that he can accomplish nothing in his parish, no
matter for how long a time his efforts may have
appeared unfruitful. And two, he should never consider that he
(13:00):
has done enough, no matter how much he may have accomplished.
In order to perfect himself, Father Viennie took another course
in moral theology from the pious and experienced Father Bailey.
To him, Jean Baptiste Vienni was appointed vicar. He lived
with him in the parish house and took a zealous
(13:21):
part in his pastor's practices and mortifications. They read the
Breviary together, and during the day frequently united in expressions
of ardent love to the Good God. Together they spent
hours at a time in adoration before the tabernacle. In
company with his pastor, Father Viennie took his scanty meal
(13:43):
and his little income passed entirely into the hands of
the poor. Articles of clothing which had been given to
him for his own use went the same way. He
was literally possessed of nothing except the clothes which he wore.
With his worthy pastor, he made daily visits to the
poor and needy of the village and neighborhood, comforting and
(14:04):
relieving them as much as possible. It took only a
short time for his old friend and pastor, Father Bailey,
to realize that he was entertaining a saint. In December
eighteen seventeen, Father Bailey was taken from his parishioners by death.
It was generally hoped that Vicar Vienni would be his successor,
(14:25):
but God had other designs. Before the question was settled,
death had removed the pastor of the little village of Ours,
who had only recently taken charge. Thereupon, the Vicar General
of the archdiocese sent Father Vienny there, saying, as he
wished him God's speed, my friend, you are going to
a small parish where a very little love of God
(14:48):
can be seen. You are now to enkindle the flame
of divine charity there most assuredly. The Vicar General, in
speaking thus, did not dream that in a few decades
the little village of ours would become a glowing hearth
of divine love, spreading its warmth over the entire country.
(15:10):
End of Chapter one
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