I’ll be in France if You Need Me.
On Monday, I leave for France along with some other priests for two weeks in the middle of nowhere, Ars to be precise. In fact, it’s still a veritable nowhere except for the someone who went to Ars a little over 150 years ago. His name was Jean Vianney.
Speaking with priests in my diocese who have traveled extensively in France, including one who managed to find himself on a school bus headed to Ars in the middle of the night, it’s nearly impossible to get to Ars unless you’re trying to do so. No trains or planes go directly there. It can only be accessed by car or on foot! It was to this place that St. Jean was sent by his bishop to bring them to the Sacraments, to Confession, and ultimately back to God.
One priest sent into the middle of nowhere to a (still) remote parish effected the conversions of many in his day and countless others in the century and a half since his death. Further, it was specifically his priesthood that did the job. His faithfulness to the Sacramental life of the Church, his dedication to the confessional stall, and his love for Eucharistic Adoration were the means and are now the example of a priest’s identity as alter Christus.
For this reason, Pope Benedict XVI named St. John Vianney, the Curé (curate or pastor) d’Ars, the universal patron of priests. And it is because of this that priests from all over the globe are converging upon Ars for a retreat to reflect upon priestly identity from this faithful pastor’s point of view. Now a saint of the Church, St. John’s example is a model for priestly ministry after Jesus’ own Sacred Heart.
I’m excited to be going. If time permits, I’d like to keep you Undergrounders in the know as I am able. I remember well that Europe doesn’t really have WiFi, and I don’t really the like internet café experiece. Also, I’m excited to unplug from technology for a little while, we’ll see how it goes. At any rate, pray for me and for my brothers as I go on retreat. I will be praying for you!
As Pére Jean-Baptiste Vianney said to a child who willingly showed him the route to his new parish he now says to us (and to me!), “You have shown me the way to Ars. Now I will show you the way to heaven!”
Oremus Pro Invicem.
Fr. Chris | Posted in Fr. Chris Decker, fwd:thinking | 1 Comment »
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The Vig Clan
