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Year for Priests Coloring Contest ExplanationIn honor of Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of a "Year for Priests", we are pleased to offer a new coloring contest featuring Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of all parish priests. (Later this year the Pope will declare him universal patron of all priests.) History St. John Vianney became the curé, or parish priest, of Ars at a time when there was little faith left in his parishioners (and the country) because of the French revolution and abject neglect. His goal as their priest was the salvation of their poor souls. He prayed, "[Lord,] grant me the conversion of my parish; I am willing to suffer whatever you wish, for my entire life!" And so he did. He offered himself in sacrifice, mortification, and prayer. He only slept two to four hours a night, and for most of his years as curé, these hours were besieged by physical attacks from the devil. Through his example and love, he slowly converted his parishioners and eventually became known throughout the country. During his final years, people from around the world flocked to his confessional. Contest Imagery The Curé of Ars was devoted to the saints and he had an especially strong devotion to our Blessed Mother. This is shown by his rosary and several fleurs-de-lis. St. Philomena and St. Regis were also great influences in his life and are portrayed by their symbols of an anchor (Philomena) and a crucifix on a staff (Regis). The background of the picture portrays the saint’s renown as a Confessor. His little church at Ars is shown with a line of pilgrims waiting to open their souls to him. He had the gift of reading souls and would get directly to the point with each penitent. During his final years he heard confessions for 16 hours a day and in one year it is estimated he heard 80,000 confessions. The devil was not pleased with the Curé’s success with the salvation of souls and disturbed the saints sleep nearly every night for 20 years. Despite his fear, St. John Vianney persevered and even gave his tormentor a nickname; ‘le grappin’, or ‘the pitchfork’. The broken and discarded pitchfork leaning against the church foreshadows the devil’s ultimate failure. |
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