We reside in an age when laity, clergy, and non secular are searching for holy guides. These complicated and darkish days have left numerous individuals discouraged. I repeatedly have conversations with associates within the clergy and the laity who’re seeking a non secular director however can’t appear to seek out one. Kevin Wells has sought to offer a heat fireside on this darkish wintertime by means of the literary resurrection of St. John Vianney in his most up-to-date guide, Coached by the Curé: Lessons on Shepherding with St. John Vianney.
I bear in mind clearly the phrases of a confessor to me years in the past: “Flip to the lives of the saints as your guides.” Wells does simply that for the quite a few households looking for readability within the midst of soul-crushing ambiguity. Whereas the guide is focused for folks who need to hold their youngsters Catholic or decide to the non secular battle to convey them again to the Church, the patron saint of parish monks has loads of direct recommendation to monks and their name to avoid wasting souls regardless of the associated fee.
Through the summer time of disgrace that was 2018, Wells turned to deep examine of St. John Vianney in an effort to perceive the decision of the ministerial priesthood—and the frequent priesthood—and the necessities for rising in holiness. Many would argue that St. John Vianney’s strategy is outdated or excessive, however the fruit of his priestly ministry counters these often-worldly objections. It was exactly in Vianney’s willingness to be crucified for his flock that Christ introduced resurrection to Ars and wider France after the chaos and destruction of the French Revolution.
Wells’ literary resurrection of St. John Vianney as a coach for our souls is steeped in biographical accounts and teachings from his life. This straightforward, nation parish priest turns into the non secular director all of us want.
Each as a mom and a campus minister, I’m confronted with the darkness of our age. It’s St. John Vianney’s quiet witness earlier than the Tabernacle that resonates with me each time I step on the faculty campus the place I serve.
On multiple event, I’ve discovered myself within the candlelight earlier than a statue of Our Woman, praying the Rosary with one scholar whereas many souls are misplaced in promiscuity, drunken binges, hedonism, witchcraft, and even Satanism throughout the campus. My very own daughter faces the uphill climb to holiness in a world that has turned its again on the Gospel. I spend lengthy hours earlier than the Tabernacle for her and the souls of scholars, monks, and seminarians entrusted to my non secular care and intercession by Our Woman.
To many, an emphasis on prayer above all else is folly. Even inside the Church, we’re paralyzed by a dull activism that yields little or no lasting fruit. It’s once we give attention to deep lives of prayer that we’re in a position to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in an effort to save souls inside our households, ministries, parishes, and the broader tradition. This lifetime of prayer is what allowed St. John Vianney to succeed in into cavernous darkness and damaged locations of the misplaced in his neighborhood.
Wells continues by drawing on St. John Vianney’s deep devotion to Our Blessed Mom. Infinite souls in a number of generations have been shattered towards the sharp rocks of divorce. Our tradition is crammed with the strolling wounded who’ve by no means identified the deep love of a mom and father. Inside households and on faculty campuses, I’ve encountered scores of younger individuals who have no idea their very own price and dignity. Whether or not it’s the lies of the tradition or damaged households, these women and men are shipwrecked and adrift. St. John Vianney gives the answer: Our Heavenly Mom.
The love of a mom can rework souls. The love of an ideal Mom raises up saints. This similar Mom additionally crushes the pinnacle of the legions of demons which can be searching for to pull younger individuals away from Christ. We see it inside our households as our technocratic age perpetuates Cartesian dualism to a radical diploma. Younger individuals—and the remainder of us—have grow to be zombies earlier than screens the place choruses of demons hold us enthralled with digital actuality so we won’t increase our eyes to heaven.
Turning to Our Blessed Mom because the certain information to Christ is what is required on this age of damaged, lonely, and addicted hearts. Her tender, motherly care and fierce protection of her youngsters will hold the enemy at bay as long as we invite her in. She is going to bind the injuries of generations who haven’t identified the mild love of a mom. If we’re to struggle for souls, then we should comply with St. John Vianney’s instance and conceal ourselves inside the Immaculate and Sorrowful Coronary heart of Mary and entrust our youngsters and all these we love and serve to Her care.
As Wells attracts us deeper into the knowledge of St. John Vianney, we’re coached with the troublesome fact that we should abandon worldly consolation. It’s no accident that desert spirituality is making a comeback in our personal day. Women and men are beginning to get up to the lies of our age and the false seductions of Devil. It’s as if many people have woken from slumber to find that materialism, consumerism, and habit to consolation is spiritually killing us.
St. John Vianney’s teaching in Wells’ guide leads us to the traditional and ever new practices of mortification and penance in order that we might discover true freedom in Christ and the hope that souls will probably be saved by means of our unification with Christ Crucified. The a long time of a Cross-less Church are coming to an finish. It’s the Cross that we should increase excessive, for it’s our sword that can vanquish sins and the enemy. We can’t hope to avoid wasting fallen away souls if we’re unwilling to sacrifice on their behalf. Numerous saints down by means of the ages are witnesses to this actuality, with St. John Vianney being one of the vital highly effective in latest centuries.
St. John Vianney was identified for his prayer and penances. The satan as soon as advised him: “If there have been three such monks as you, my kingdom [in France] could be ruined.” If that is true for this priest, it is usually true for folks and others who want to avoid wasting souls with Christ. We should begin to give attention to the issues of heaven with nice earnestness and be taught detachment by means of mortification.
The decision to holiness isn’t notably complicated. It’s troublesome and arduous, however it isn’t sophisticated. The smallest youngster to essentially the most discovered of non secular masters and theologians can do it as a result of Christ gives the mandatory graces once we lean fully on Him. The saints lived holiness by means of frequent reception of the Sacraments, lives of deep prayer and penance, love of the Blessed Mom (and St. Joseph), service to others above themselves, and full belief within the Lord.
For these within the Church who’re searching for a non secular director, look to St. John Vianney. Kevin Wells’ literary teaching by means of St. John Vianney’s teachings is the reply to the numerous members of the Church who’re searching for steerage and knowledge on the trail to holiness throughout this non secular wintertime.
Editor’s Be aware: This text was impressed by Kevin Wells’ guide, Coached by the Curé: Lessons on Shepherding with St. John Vianney, obtainable from Scepter Publishers.
Picture from Wikimedia Commons
