St. John Vianney
Patron Saint of Parish Priests
Saint John Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests. He was a pastor in the eighteenth century in Ars, France. Though never much of a scholar, his incredible holiness, perseverance, and reliance on God transformed southern France. People waited in line for days to go to Confession with him where he spent 16-18 hours a day. One of the most treasured anecdotes about St. John Vianney tells of his encounter with a young shepherd who led him into Ars. St. John Vianney said to the shepherd boy, “You have shown me the way to Ars. I will show you the way to Heaven.”