On February 9, 1818, a 32 year-old priest began his journey to Ars, France, with his few meager possessions. Ordained less than 3 years before, Fr. John Marie Baptist Vianney (1786-1859) was on route to take up his first pastoral assignment. Vianney's path to the priesthood had been marked by many uncertainties, failures and tears. Virtually failing his studies, his ordination had only come about because his close friend was able to pull some strings in the Diocese of Lyons. And even when ordained, few held any hopes for this illiterate, simple peasants. Assignments for new priests were based on their talents. It was not by accident, therefore, that Vianney was sent to what was considered "a Siberia for the clergy of the Lyons diocese." For a man to be sent to Ars was held by his brother priests as a disgrace.
And so, on that cold winter day, a young priest, barely ordained, was banished to a tiny, remote, impoverished village that had lost its faith and morals. It was clearly a recipe for failure. Anyone could see that... ... but God had something else in mind
This DVD Includes:
Excerpts From His Catechism & Sermons. Quotes.Photos.E-Books.And More!Run Time: 90 mins