Sanctuaire d'Ars (Shrine of St. John Vianney), Ars
St. John Vianney, le "Curé d'Ars." Photo
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The Sanctuaire de St. Jean-Marie Vianney (Shrine of St. John Vianney) is a Catholic shrine in Ars, a small city northwest of Lyon, France.
History
St. Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859) is a Catholic saint who was parish priest (curé) of Ars, in France. He is known as St. John Vianney in English.
During his lifetime, St. John Vianney founded an orphanage for girls and became internationally famous for his spiritual direction. He was known for his powerful sermons, personal example of holiness and his ability to perform miracles. He was said to be able to read souls in the confessional and predict future events.
Throughout France the saying was heard, "There is a holy man in Ars; go and see him." And people did - between 1830 and 1845 an average of 300 people visited Ars every day to meet with St. John Vianney.
To accommodate all these pilgrims, St. John Vianney slept only two hours per night. He also ate little, dressed in old clothes and slept on a hard bed. He was said to have been attacked by the Devil regularly, including one famous incident in which the Devil set the saint's bed on fire.
St. John Vianney died on August 4, 1859. In 1874, Pope Pius IX declared him Venerable, and he was canonized a saint by Pius XI in 1925. St. John Vianney's feast day is celebrated each year on August 4. He is the patron saint of parish priests.
What to See
The Sanctuaire (Shrine) of St. John Vianney contains several sites of interest to pilgrims and tourists alike, including:
- Church (Église) - 12-century church where the saint preached
- Basilica (Basilique) - newer basilica built next to the church, which displays the saint's incorrupt body
- Heart Chapel - contains the saint's heart
- Home of St. John Vianney - preserved the way he left it
- Underground Church - constructed for pilgrim groups
- La Providence - orphanage founded by St. John Vianney
More Information
- Sanctuaire d'Ars - Official Website (French with some English pages)
- St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney - Catholic Encyclopedia
- John Mary Vianney - Patron Saints Index
