St. John Vianney Novena

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St. John Vianney Novena
- About St. John Vianney
- St. John Vianney Novena Prayers
  - Day 1
  - Day 2
  - Day 3
  - Day 4
  - Day 5
  - Day 6
  - Day 7
  - Day 8
  - Day 9
- Patronages

About St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney’s life story is one of how determination to serve the Lord triumphed over the many obstacles he met along the way.

Though a very simple and humble person, St. John Vianney became renowned for converting sinners with gentle words. He would spend eleven to sixteen hours per day just to hear confessions and convert sinners.

St. John Vianney was born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, in Dardilly, France on 8 May 1786, as the fourth of six children of Matthieu Vianney and Marie Beluze. From his devout Catholic family he learned to be deeply religious to an extent where he has been known to practice mortification from his early youth.

When the French Revolution came, many people expressed disapproval of the clergy who were seen as burdens of the state. Masses were declared illegal so John’s family had to attend masses held by priests in secret locations. The sacrifices by the priests, in the eyes of young John, was very heroic and he learned to look up to them. Through these brave priests, John was able to receive the sacraments.

The Catholic Church reestablished itself in France in 1802. In 1806 John enrolled at a school run by M. Balley in a village called Ecully. He had a very difficult time learning there, especially Latin.After some time, Balley recognized his leanings toward a religious vocation, and assisted him in his studies.

By 1809 Napoleon had declared war on Spain, and John was one of those who were conscripted. By some form of divine intervention perhaps, John first missed his regiment’s deployment, then was led to join a group of deserters. A general amnesty for deserters in 1810 allowed him to continue pursuing his studies.

He continued his studies but again faced problems when the major seminary rejected him for being too slow. He was later admitted at the request of Balley, who reasoned out that his piety compensated for his ignorance. He was ordained on 12 August 1815, and said his first mass the very next day. He was assigned as an assistant to Balley at Ecully.

In 1818, a few years after the death of his mentor M. Balley, John was appointed Parish Priest of Ars. It was in this village of only 230 people where John Vianney realized the adverse effect the French Revolution had on religion, spirituality and morals. He found that people, for the most part, did not find religion relevant.

John set out to effect a spiritual renewal by attacking the social ills he saw in his homilies and in the confessional. Soon the effects of his homilies and especially his work in the confessional became so famous that people from other places visited just to have him hear their confessions. This became the focal point of his ministry that the bishop even asked him to forego retreats in order to continue saving lost souls.

St. John heard confessions eleven to sixteen hours each day just to accommodate the pilgrims coming to Ars. In 1843, he became very ill and was only cured through the intercession of St. Philomena, of whom he was a great devotee.

St. John wanted to live the life of a monk, and tried to leave Ars many times, but had to come back. He died in 1859, and was canonized by Pope Pious XI in 1925. His feast day is August 4.

Among the miracles attributed to him were his ability to continue serving despite having very little food or rest, his supernatural knowledge of the future and the past, obtaining for the poor in his care, and the ability to cure the sick, especially children.