The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-25

looked on him as q messenger sent by
Heaven in answer to his Rosary.
| When later on, he had been ordained
priest, aud the parish of Ars had been con
| tided to his care, he was not unmindful OF
| the graces he had received through the de-
vOti0n to our Blessed Lady and her Rosary.
At this tims Ars was far from being edify-
ing by the piety and virtue of its people.
| He adopted two means for their reforma-
tion the one was the devotion to our Lord
in the Blessed ga lament, and the other the
devotion to His holy Mother. He enoourag-
ed the former by bringing bis people to fre-
quent communion, and to frequently visit
ing the Blessed Sacrament the other lie
promoted by means of the Rosary. He re-
| mem bered, too, that the confraternlties the
most encouraged by the Church are those
of the Blessed Sacrament aud the Rosary |
while they are also the most ancient ana |
the most universal, and he therefore |
resolved that these two confraternitles
should be established in his parish, aud
that through them he would reform hls peo
pie. From the beginning he established
the practice of recting the Rosary in pub
lie every night in the church meanwhile
he waited an opportunity OF establishing his
confraternity.
That opportunity soon came. OneSun-
day evening several young people, who
were far from being the most fervent OF
his parishioners, remained in the church for
confession. The holy Cure noticed them,
and said to himself, "New have got them
MY confraternity is found ~ He went to-
wards them, and said, "My children, if
you like, we will say the Rosary together,
to ask Of the Queen of Virgins to obtain for
I you the grace to do we'll what you are
about to do" The conversion of several
> of these young persons dates from that mo-
l ment. The Cure of Ars looked upon this
as his frst conquest; it was followed by
3 many more, until at length the parish was
completely transformed.
The holy priest was not ungrateful to her
Q through whose prayers lie Acknowledged
S that he had obtained this signal grace He
8 always caused the feast of the Bleest d Vir-
gin to he devoutiy celebrated at AIS on
l these days the cUmmunions were Always
I numerous, and the uttendauce of people
t large Every where in the village her image
is to be seen, from the front of the church
1 to the Interior of the poorest cottage.
He loved to speak of this good Mother.
:, He use to say, "The heart of Mary is 30
a full of tenderness for US that the hearts of
Q all mothers put together would be bat a
3. lump OF ice compared TO hers. l think that
e at the end of the world the Blessed Eirgi n
/. will be at rest, but as long as the world lasts
she will bs bothered on all Sides"
q His own great resource when he was IN
q any special difficulty vas to walk out into
o the country, with his beads in his hand say
a ing the Rosary. On one such occasion be
q was greatly troubled by the want of money
l. with which to pay the workmen who were
,r engaged on his new chapel of ST. John the
b Baptist ne naO nOCnlDg, ZOE ne nao given
3. away all he had to the poor. Oa the day OF
- which We are speaking he had get but very
- short distance from the village, when he
le was met by gentleman on horse e-back, ar
10 entire stranger to him, who stopped, RAISED
his hat respectfully and Incurred after sfa HI;
" priest, "but 1 am in great trouble
n :.What!" said the gentleman, do you
d parishioners give you pain I" "On thu
u contrary" was the reply, "they have muct
p more consideration for me than l deserve
n. That which troublea me is that have jus
70 been building q chapel, and that have nt
< money with which to pay for it," The un
OF known seemed to reflect for D moment, theI
is took twenty. five gold pieces from his poe
Id ket and gave them to FIR. Vianney. Sir, /,
in he eaid, this will pay your workmen.
Id recommend myself to yoar prayers" d.
m then disappeared at a gsllcp, without leav
he ing the priest time think where he was.
On another occasion he had bought from
in one of bis parishioners a considerAol
an quantity of corn. This was for the use o
n his Providence" as he called the h0us
ng where be maintained largo nomoer @
ur orphan girls. He had not the means q
en- paying for this corn, and he therefore peg
lie ged hIs creditor to give him little tins
to ard this was willingly granted hlm. ii
nd therefore went ont INTO the country and re
'se cited his Rosary, rec' mmendinH h'e poo
le, little orphans to the Mother "t the poo
ia His PRAYERS were heard without delay.
it, woman cams mp to him suddenly and ssiC
,or " Are 700 the Cure (parish priest) of AIRS
to I" Yes my good woman" Here is SON
ed money that 1 have been told to give
to you," sbe continued. els 1t for Masses
&C. he asked. "No, sir,'' vas the reply, "yor
prayers are asked tor the giver." There
20 upon the woman emptled her purse into n
sry hands, and be uever knew who she wa
er- or from whom she had come.
iii For many years before the death OF tt
me Cure of Ars scarcely any good work of in
me portance was undertaking in France witt
LOT. out being submitted to him, aud receiviE
ape his blessing. Thus it happened that "he
the tho Perpetual Rosary, which had for mar
cry wears almost fallen into disUse, was beiI
ing revived, the work was submitted to Il
his holy priest. AS soon as he understood II
1ch nature of the devotion he cried out, " y
me this work is beautiful, very beautifu
ose 1t is q divine work, and it is destioed
the produce great fruits in men's souls and
im, the Church. unite myself to it with I
ev. my heart, and wish to be united in lnte
Iii kh ~ hot V n