Recta Ratio

Today is the feast of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars, and the saint I have read the second most about (the first being Saint Padre Pio). He is the patron of priests.


O heavenly Father, Shepherd of Thy people, we give Thee thanks for Thy servant Jean, who was faithful in the care and nurture of Thy flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by Thy grace grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Catholic Encyclopedia on the Cure of Ars.

Excerpts from his sermons.

TAN's selections on the Cure.

Father Rutler has a book out about him.

Twenty-one years ago, Pope John Paul II wrote on St. Jean Vianney to all priests in his Maundy Thursday letter.

Ask his intercession for a good priest you know.

His feast in the ordinary mode of the Latin Rite was August 4th.

Saint Jean Marie Vianney, please pray for us!

From a sermon by Pope Saint Leo the Great on the Transfiguration:

The Lord took chosen witnesses and in their presence revealed his glory. That is to say, the form of body which he had in common with other men, he so transfigured with light, that his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became exceeding white, even as snow. Now the chief purpose of this Transfiguration was to remove from the hearts of the disciples their fear of the Cross. So, before their eyes, was unveiled the splendour of his hidden majesty, that the lowliness of his freely-chosen suffering might not confound their faith. But nonetheless there was also thus set forth, by the providence of God, a sure and certain hope for holy Church, whereby the whole Body of Christ should know with what great a change it is yet to be honoured. For the members of that Body whose Head hath already been transfigured in light may promise themselves a share in his glory.

Kathryn Ann was born in Scituate the same night Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as President on the sudden death of Warren Harding. She died on the feast of Saint Padre Pio, in 1998. In your charity, please remember the repose of her soul in your prayers.

O God, Who hast commanded us to honour our father and our mother, in the tenderness of Thy mercy and have pity on the souls of my mother Kathryn and father George, and forgive them their trespasses, and make me to see them again in the joy of everlasting light. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, as one God, now, and in the world of worlds.
Amen.

V. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
R. And may perpetual light shine upon her.
V. May she rest in peace.
R. Amen.

A Mother's Love's A Blessing
1. An Irish boy was leaving,
Leaving his own native home,
Crossing the broad Atlantic,
Once more he wished to roam,
And as he was leaving his mother,
Who was standing on the quay,
She threw her arms around his waist,
And this to him did say,

A mother's love's a blessing,
No matter where you roam,
Keep her while she's living,
You'll miss her when she's gone,
Love her as in childhood,
Though feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss a mother's love,
Till she's buried beneath the clay.

2. And as the years go onwards,
I'll settle down in life,
And choose a nice young colleen,
And take her for my wife,
And as the babes grow older,
And climb around my knee,
I'll teach them the very same lesson,
That my mother taught to me.

A mother's love's a blessing,
No matter where you roam,
Keep her while she's living,
You'll miss her when she's gone,
Love her as in childhood,
Though feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss a mother's love,
Till she's buried beneath the clay.

Late in posting this year. Can't backdate my posts like I used to, or post ahead, either! Sorry Mum!

Early August is one of those periods when saints days were moved rather haphazardly in the new calendar, so that there was much shifting of this saint one or two days, and that saint for the same period. At least 3 major saints were shuffled back and forth, including Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, Saint Jean Marie Vianney, and Saint Dominic de Guzman. In the new calendar, today is the feast of Saint Jean Marie Vianney. But we are trads here, and August 4th is the feast of Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, which we know better as the Dominicans.

Here is what The Golden Legend has to say about him.

And the Catholic Encyclopedia


It was Saint Dominic who first put the Rosary in the form we know it.

Saint Dominic, please pray for us!