But, in his day as today, what would be the point of worshipping the Lord God at the altar or in front of the tabernacle, if He is not venerated in the heart by a life that converts itself (1) to the presence of God, (2) to the “love of God”, (3) to the “love of God”, (4) to the “love of God”, (5) to the “love of God”, (6) to the “love of God”? obedience of faith^[1] “and (3) at the service of the brother, the family, the local society, the country, … even the ‘world’ to which God sends his disciples…?

We all remember the exclamation of the Curé d’Ars, returning from the procession of the Blessed Sacrament in his village, so happy that our ” Lord [se soit] walked around the parish “! And during this journey, we know that the Holy Curé didn’t want anyone to stand aside as a spectator ” hedging their bets “, but to join the procession himself (Trochu 272; Mme Christine de CIBEINS).

The holy man had his feet firmly on the ground. He knew that man can only give what he has received, and that every day he needs to receive. That’s why he attached so much importance to prayer, and in particular to prayer at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament. ” Our Lord is there, hidden, waiting for us to come and visit him and make our requests. [NODET 51/139]

And it’s not fooling itself about the appearances in which anyone who forgets the incarnation of our lives could get bogged down. ” People who practice devotion, who go to confession and take communion, and who don’t do the works of Faith and Charity, are like trees in bloom. You think there will be as many fruits as flowers; there’s quite a difference.. “[MONNIN II 536 – Esprit 340; NODET 115/139].

On the ^200th anniversary of the purchase of “la maison Givre to turn it into “La Providence” (March 1824), where the Sisters now live. Missionary Workers of the Immaculate “We’re looking forward to the gift of grace we’ll be celebrating in 1 year’s time, almost to the day. In fact, we’ve just passed the date of May 31, 2024, and next year, on the same day and in the same place, we’ll be celebrating the Centenary of the Canonization of Jean-Marie Vianney!

A man of prayer as much as of commitment to the poorHe was a man of sacrifice as much as he was a man of public approaches to the great and the good of this world, a man who accepted annoyances (or the jealousy of his confreres) as much as he made radical evangelical demands of any man who claimed to be a Christian… In the end, he was an unclassifiable man, and no one could deny that he had “made himself all things to all people”, as Saint Paul used to say… simply because he had given himself “all things to God”!

Let us give thanks, on this day he loved so much (Corpus Christi) for such a pastor, “patron saint of all priests in France”… and of “all priests in the Universe”! If you have any energy left, take the opportunity to pray for your priests! Thank you!

[1] Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; 15:18; 16:6; 16:27