Timeline

Key dates in the life of the Curé d’Ars. The life and ministry of Jean-Marie Vianney in a few dates…

Childhood and vocation

May 8, 1786: Jean-Marie Vianney is born in Dardilly, near Lyon. The fourth of six children, he spent his childhood on his father’s farm, during the turbulent period of the French Revolution.
1806: Having expressed his desire to become a priest, Jean-Marie Vianney began his training with Abbé Balley at the Écully presbytery.
June 23, 1815: after a long and often difficult training period, he was ordained deacon in Lyon.
August 13, 1815: ordained a priest in Grenoble by ^Mgr Simon. He was then appointed curate to Abbé Balley in Écully.

Arrival in Ars

On February 13, 1818, he arrived in Ars as a minister.

1821: Ars is established as a parish and Jean-Marie Vianney becomes its Curé.
From 1822, he set about restoring and embellishing his church, a task he continued until his death.
1822: the diocese of Belley, on which the parish of Ars depends, is re-established.
1824: he opened the Maison de Providence as a free school for girls, later to become an orphanage.

Pilgrimages begin

Around 1830: pilgrims and penitents begin to flock to Ars. They will continue to come in ever greater numbers, right up to his death. The Curé d’Ars will hardly ever be able to leave his parish, caring exclusively for his parishioners and pilgrims.

1843: serious illness of the saintly Curé, preceding the first “escape” from Ars. There will be three more leaks, as Curé’s workload increases and his weaknesses become apparent.
In 1849, he founded the boys’ school, which he entrusted to the Brothers of the Holy Family in Belley.
From 1853 onwards, a team of diocesan missionaries came to help the holy priest, who was a “prisoner” in the confessional and besieged by pilgrims.
1858: there were around 100,000 pilgrims to Ars that year. The Curé d’Ars spends up to 17 hours a day in the confessional.
August 4, 1859: the Curé d’Ars dies exhausted at around 2 a.m. in his rectory.

Beatification and canonization

January 8, 1905: beatification by Pope Pius X; he is declared “patron saint of French priests”.

May 31, 1925: canonization by Pope Pius XI.
1929: Pope Pius XI declares him “patron saint of all priests throughout the world”.
October 6, 1986: Pope John Paul II makes a pilgrimage to Ars.

Timeline

Childhood and vocation

Arrival in Ars

Pilgrimages begin

Beatification and canonization

Opening hours

Mass times (basilica)

Confessions (basilica)

Cucharistic Adoration

Hour of Mercy

Rosary

Liturgy of the Hours

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