As we continue our Saintly Summer series, we turn to Saint John Vianney—the humble Curé of Ars and patron saint of parish priests. Known for his struggles in seminary and his slow grasp of Latin, he was assigned to a tiny, forgotten town where few expected much of him.But what happened next was extraordinary.Through simple faith, tireless devotion, and a deep love for his people, Saint John transformed Ars from a spiritual wasteland into a place of revival and grace. Saint John Vianney invites us to consider: Can holiness be found in the ordinary? What if doing the dishes or taking out the trash—with love—is a path to sainthood? He reminds us that everyday faithfulness—done with heart—can soften hardened souls and quietly build up the Kingdom of God.

Jolt of Faith – Full Text
Saint John Vianney: Holiness in the Ordinary | Saintly Summer | 8/7

To continue our Saintly Summer series, I’m gonna focus today on Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars , the patron saint of parish priest. Saint John entered seminary late in life and was known for his slowness in his studies. He just could not master Latin. He got ordained reluctantly by the bishop who just sent him to Ars, which was a backwater town, thinking he could do very little damage. But in his lifetime that Saint John spent at Ars, he literally turned the town around. By his penance, by his preaching, and by his devotion to his people, he changed their hardened hearts as a result of the French Revolution and brought about a great revival in that backwater little town. And Saint John’s dedication to his everyday responsibilities is not only inspiration for parish priests like myself, but it’s inspiration for all of us because sometimes it’s hard to see God in doing the dishes. It’s hard to think we’re serving others by emptying the trash. But doing those mundane things we all do day in and day out. But if we do them with love and with dedication and devotion as Saint John did, then like that, like him, we too can use them to build up God’s Kingdom and to bring people closer to the Lord. Not a homily, not a sermon,but just that little Jolt of Faith we may need.