Ep 49 - Homily at Vianney's Canonization Mass

HOMILY

OUR MOST HOLY LORD, VENERABLE BROTHERS, BELOVED SONS,

The venerable solemnity of that day gives us and the community of the faithful a splendid reason to rejoice, when the miraculously born Church, adorned with all the charisms of the Holy Spirit, first emerged from the silent retreat of the Upper Room into the light and glory of men. From that moment on, when eternal life and virtue began to flow into the veins of the immaculate Bride of Christ — for, as Augustine testifies (Serm. 187 on Temp.), what is the soul in our body, that is, the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, which is the Church — with the most present help of the Spirit of truth, she not only existed free from all error, but also, since she was born for the common salvation of peoples, she most diligently sowed and nourished the seeds of sacred doctrine and charity everywhere. This divine power of the Spirit of the Paraclete, removing the contagion of errors from the Church, was most clearly seen by all when the Council of Nicaea was held sixteen centuries ago: may the commemoration of which, with minds and souls enlightened and moved by divine grace, hasten and restore that union of the dissenting churches with the Apostolic See, which we especially desire. Moreover, the work which the Apostles, from the very day of Pentecost, gave and, as it were, sealed with their blood, to lead the world from pagan depravity to a new religion, is pursued by all those who either, having renounced the comforts of home and life, carry the light of the Gospel, and at the same time human and civil culture, with great labor and even risk of life, to the barbarians, or who, with no or scarcely any respite from their souls, labor in drawing the faithful from the mire of vices to the exercise of virtues. ...

It is not appropriate in this place, especially since we are dealing with a most explored subject, to elaborate on the examples of both virtues and the course of life in more detail. But we seem to see with our own eyes the slender figure of John the Baptist Vianney, his neck shining like a crown with the snow of his promised hair, and his slender face worn out by fasting, from which the innocence and holiness of his humble and most sweet soul shone so brightly that, at first glance, multitudes of people were recalled to salutary thoughts. Who, no matter how hardened in their sins, resisted his words and tears? Who did not stir his evening conversations, even though they were usually held in a low voice, both to repentance and to love Jesus again? From which, indeed, the action of the Holy Spirit stands out wonderfully, who can make one unlearned and uncultured man a very skilled fisher of men. ...

And that we may return to that from which we have come, the Spirit of truth and the same author of all holiness, do not cease to propitiate the Catholic cause by associating your prayers with Ours, Venerable Brethren, beloved Sons. He who invisibly vivifies and unites the Church (St. Th., Summ. Theol., III, q. III, a. 8), and who in the first Synod of Nicaea and in the other, in the course of ages, ecumenical Councils governed the counsels of the Fathers, may he himself continue to be present to the Church, with an ever greater abundance of gifts, and may he himself, praying for us with groans unutterable (Ad Rom., VIII, 26), renew the face of the earth and mature the unity of all Christians: who lives and reigns with the Father and the Son for ever and ever.