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Year of Priests

150thAnniversary of

the dies natalis ofSt. John Marie Vianney

June 19, 2009 2010

Solemnity of theSacred Heart of Jesusa day traditionallydevoted to prayer forthe sanctification ofthe clergy

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y Deepen the commitment to interior renewal. Strive

for spiritual perfection.y More forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in

todays world

y The teaching and example of St. John Marie Vianney

can serve as a significant point of referencey Regularly visited the sick and families

y Organized missions and feasts

y Did charitable and missionary works

y

Embellished/Furnished his parishy Cared for the orphans and teachers

y Provided for the education of the children

y Enlisted lay persons to work at his side

A Year to:

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Lord, grant me the conversion of my parish; I

am willing to suffer whatever you wish, for myentire life.

St. John Marie Vianney

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Key Learnings from St. John MarieVianney

- Complete Identification of the person with hisministry.- St. John Mary Vianney taught his parishionersprimarily by the witness of his life. It was from hisexample that they learned to pray,- He was convinced that the fervour of a priests

life depended entirely upon the Mass. He wasaccustomed, when celebrating,to offer hisown life in sacrifice:- He sought in every way, to help his parishionersto rediscover the meaning and beauty of thesacrament of Penance.- He enabled them to experience the Lords

merciful love. Our own time urgently needs asimilar witness to the truth of Love- Practice of an austere asceticism. He himself kepta tight rein on his body, with vigils and fasts, lestit rebel against his priestly soul

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My God, grant me the grace to love you asmuch as I possibly can.St. John Marie Vianney

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Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses

than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers,it is because they are witnesses.Pope Paul VI

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My secret is simple: give everything away; hold nothingback.

St. John Marie Vianney

When he lacked money, he would say amiably to the poor who knocked athis door:

Today Im poor just like you, Im one of you.

St. John Marie Vianney

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There are no two good ways of serving God. Thereis only one: serve him as he desires to be served.

St. John Marie Vianney

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y All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory,devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ for the

priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify andmould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence.

y The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason areunable to leave their homes, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence if,

with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form ofsin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, theusual three conditions, they pray for the sanctification of priestsand offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queenof the Apostles".

y Partial Indulgence is offered to all faithful each time they pray fiveOur Father, Ave Maria and Gloria Patri, or any other duly approvedprayer "in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priestsmaintain purity and sanctity of life".