Saint John Vianney and the Year for Priests

    Who hasn't heard of St. John Vianney? In the days when I went to Grammar School in the Netherlands (in the years after World War II) most of today's surfers hadn't been born yet. That's a sobering thought and makes me feel rather like "Brother Time." But in those years, everyone in Holland was acquainted with the Curé d'Ars. Ars is a town in southwestern France in the vicinity of the Cognac region. As Fr. Marion Habig, OFM, writes in the above-linked biography of the St. John Vianney, "It is a distinct honor for the Secular Franciscan Order (formerly, Third Order of St. Francis) that he was one of its members."

    In Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia, Pope John XXIII's Encyclical on St. John Vianney, the Pontiff gives a glowing tribute to this inspiring saint. Most of you probably have never read this Encyclical because it was not addressed to the laity in particular, but it is well worth reading. It is easy to understand why Pope Benedict XVI chose St. John Vianney as a model for the Year for Priests. This year began on June 19, 2009 and will end on June 19, 2010.

    Secular Franciscans today, are known as people who fully support the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. The Rule of St. Francis (6b) reminds us we are "Called like Saint Francis to rebuild the Church and inspired by his example, let them devote themselves energetically to living in full communion with the pope, bishops, and priests, fostering an open and trusting dialogue of apostolic effectiveness and creativity." See also Article 99 and 100 of our Constitution which expands on Rule 6. "Francis, go rebuild my Church, which you see is falling into ruins." (said the Voice from the crucifix of San Damiano) may have initially inspired St. Francis to take up masonry with bricks and mortar to repair a church, but it is so much more than that as St. Francis came to realize also.  St. John Vianney was instrumental in "Rebuilding the Church" by his excellent example, evangelization and especially his legendary pastoral care of his flock.

    As professed SFO sisters and brothers, we have promised to serve our Lord and the Church in this way, and for us "Rebuilding the Church" generally means assisting the clergy in any way possible by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ (remember, that's why at our Profession we all received a copy of the New Testament, so we would study it in depth in order to spread the Good News to all!) and also by assisting our priests and bishops through prayer supporting the Church. Our daily prayer for the priests and deacons in our local parishes, and indeed in the world, should become the center of our prayer life for this year. We ask in praying for our priests that they may remain true to the Catholic Faith, solid in their chastity, frugal in their living style and obedient to their Bishops and of course, to the Holy Father.

    During the 800th Anniversary celebration of the Franciscan Order, the Holy Father addressed all Franciscans: "Dear friends, the last word I wish to leave you with is the same word that the Risen Jesus consigned to his disciples: "Go!" (cf. Mt 28: 19); Mk 16: 15). Go, and continue to "repair the house" of the Lord Jesus Christ, his Church. A few days ago the earthquake that struck the Abruzzo seriously damaged many churches and you of Assisi know well what this means. But there is another "ruin" which is far more serious: that of people and communities! Like Francis, always begin with yourselves." To rebuild people and communities through prayer and assistance is what we must do. It seems to me that's what our parish priests do too, whether they are Franciscan or not.

   The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has published a color brochure for distribution on their website, found here. Because of copyright provisions, I cannot place it on our website, but you can print it out for personal use. Or, instead, if may be easier to print this copy (arranged serially).

Fred Schaeffer, SFO
July 21, 2009