DAILY SAINTS I August 4 I St John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests

St John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests (May 8, 1786 - Aug 4, 1859 France) St Vianney worked as a shepherd boy on his father's farm, and only attended the village school briefly when he was nine. When he entered the seminary, he really struggled with his studies, and it was questionable whether he would be ordained. A parish priest tutored him privately and arranged for special exams. He was ordained in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. John Vianney was best known as a confessor. Many times he spent up to sixteen hours a day in the confessional, and he had the supernatural gift of knowing exactly what to say to penitents. St. John Vianney remained at the parish until his death in 1859. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925.