Year for Priests Coloring Contest Explanation

In 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 was the parish priest in Ars, France from 1818 - 1859. Pope Benedict considers him to be “an immense gift to his people”, and has asked that he be held up as a humble example for all priests, and a great witness to all the faithful, as they focus on the sacrament of the priesthood this year.

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
Our picture portrays St. John Vianney in ecstasy (prayer) before the Blessed Sacrament. The image is modeled after the famous sculpture of the curé by Emilien Cabuchet. St. Vianney was very humble about his appearance and refused to sit for any portrait. The artist went through many trials to complete his work. (For more on this story and a fascinating glimpse into the thought and art during St. Vianney’s time, go here.)

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.