The holy priest paid him his pension at the seminary
“If I hadn’t had this ordeal, I wouldn’t have known if I loved the good Lord.” This is how the holy Curé of Ars spoke one day of his brother priest who was also his auxiliary from 1845 until 1853, Abbot Raymond. He knew him well, since he had already helped him materially during his studies at the Seminary. Indeed Antonin Raymond was born in Fareins in 1806 into a poor family. A serious and diligent seminarian, the holy priest paid him his pension at the seminary and gave him his first cassock!
Auxiliary
After his ordination, Father Raymond was sent to the parish of Savigneux, a parish neighboring Ars. Mr. Vianney was very happy because he could count on her help when he was attacked in the confessional. Many parish registers bear the signature of Father Raymond, well before his appointment to Ars. But this help was insufficient, and it quickly became evident that the Curé of Ars needed an auxiliary. Why not move the priest of Savigneux? This is how Father Raymond arrived in Ars in September 1845.
Auxiliary, he was… even if he already saw himself at the Cure d’Ars. It was certainly his imagination, more than his ambition, which made him imagine that he would one day become the pastor of Ars. Abbot Vianney, long tired of his role as priest, wanted to give way to him; Abbot Raymond’s organizational and governing talents would have worked wonders, he thought… But his superiors did not want it that way, nor did the parishioners of Ars either! Mr. Vianney was kept in his place as priest with his young assistant. Jean-Marie Vianney was very patient with his fiery and sometimes intrusive assistant. He will only have words of support and friendship about him: “I don’t know if it’s because I love him, but I think he preaches well.” For a very long time, many parishioners asked first the Curé of Ars and then the bishop, that Father Raymond leave. But Mr. Vianney often prevented this by saying: “If we are not happy, we will both leave.” Full of virtue, the Curé of Ars knew how to take advantage of the difficult and sometimes unpleasant character of his friend to allow himself to be sanctified in humility. ” Oh ! Leave him to me, he said, he tells me my truths.”
He leaves Ars
It was only after 8 years that Abbot Raymond understood that he would not become the successor of the saint in Ars; he then requested another assignment. He was appointed to Jayat, in Bresse, in 1853. In 1858 he received his final appointment at Polliat. However, he will often come back to see Jean-Marie Vianney. He was still present in Ars 8 days before the death of the Saint Curé. Then, as he would later specify at the beatification process: “As soon as I learned of his death, I left for Ars where I had the consolation of being able to kiss him one last time”. He will continue his ministry in Polliat for several years; he died there in 1877 and was buried there.
Extract from the Annales d’Ars n° 329[novembre-décembre 2010] .
