Prayer of the Day

Feast of St. John Vianney

August 4th, 2016

The harvest is still great and the need for labourers is as great as ever. In asking the Lord to send labourers into the harvest, we have to ask ourselves what is the role of each one of us. It is not just a question of priests and religious, but to every one of his followers – to every one of us who has been baptised. Every one of us is being called to be a harvester. Each one of us can reach a corner of the harvest field that is accessible to no one else. These include my family, my neighbours, my work colleagues and others who come into my life. I may be the only person who brings Jesus with his healing and compassion into their lives.

Once we say Yes to God and his Son, they become part of our lives.

Today is the feast of St. John Vianney 1786 – 1859,  who had to content with poverty,  military service and his own intellectual shortcomings in order to become a priest.  In 1817 he was sent to Ars, a small French village and from 1830 the cure averaged twelve to sixteen hours a day in the confessional.  He is Patron of priests.