As a number of people have, of course, asked me about my pilgrimage, I thought I would share a few thoughts/reflections in a bulletin column or two.
One highlight of the trip, was offering Mass at the altar of St. John Vianney in Ars. Ars is where St. John Vianney served as a priest, and where he is entombed. In fact, St. John Vianney’s body is in a glass case over the altar, so you can see his body as you celebrate the Mass!
St. John Vianney is the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. When John Vianney was in seminary, he greatly struggled with academics, so much so that some priests of the seminary thought he would never amount to much. There is a story that his friend and fellow seminarian Mathias Loras was trying to tutor him in his academics. But he grew so frustrated with John Vianney that he slapped him! Rather than grow angry, John Vianney fell to his knees and humbly asked forgiveness for his slowness in learning. Mathias Loras was so touched by this he asked John Vianney’s forgiveness in return. John Vianney and Mathias Loras were both ordained priests the same year and remained lifelong friends. I mention St. John Vianney’s friend, Mathias Loras, because he would go on to become the first bishop of our very own Archdiocese of Dubuque! So the history of our diocese has a historical “personal” connection with the Saintly priest of John Vianney.
While Mathias Loras went on to be a missionary priest to the United States (and to Iowa), John Vianney was put in a small rural parish in the little town of Ars. While not much was expected of him, St. John Vianney would become a great force of inspiration for conversion and holiness for many. People would travel from all over France to hear him preach, to go to confession with him, and seek his council.
When I think of the friendship of our first Bishop Mathias Loras, and St John Vianney, I like to think that Matthias Loras’ “slap” of St. John Vianney inspired St. John Vianney to holiness. So I pray that St. John Vianney’s prayerful intercession in return may “slap” Mathias Loras’ Dubuque Archdiocese, that we as members of this Archdiocese may be inspired to holiness.
Because of all this, offering Mass for my brother priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque at the altar of St. John Vianney, was one of the highlights of this pilgrimage. To go there on behalf of my brother priests, and our Archbishop and Archdiocese, to pray and intercede for them, asking St. John Vianney’s intercession: for commitment to our priestly vows, for growth in holiness, and for us to grow in love for the people we serve, and for renewal in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. St. John Vianney, pray for us!
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
PS: Please pray for us priests of the Archdiocese as we gather for our annual “priest convocation,” a time of prayer, fraternity, and discussion about ministry in the Archdiocese.
