Love of M. Vianney for the Poor

Next to sinners, those who chiefly occupied M. Vianney’s thoughts were the poor. He loved them because our Lord loved them, and because he felt that, having to suffer all sorts of privations, pains, and slights here below, they were the more in need of being sought out, honoured, and consoled.

“How lucky it is that the poor come in this way to beg of us! If they did not come, we should have to go and seek them, and we have not always time. Some people give alms that they may be seen, and praised, and admired … Some think they do not receive thanks enough. That will not do! … If you give alms for the world’s sake, you are right to complain. But if you do it for the good God, what does it matter whether you are thanked or not? We must do all the good we can to every body, but we must look for our recompense from God alone.”

“When we give alms, we should think that we are giving to our Lord, and not to the poor. We often think we are relieving a poor person, and we find it is our Lord … Look at St. John of God; he used to wash the feet of the poor before he gave them food. One day, as he was leaning over the feet of a poor man, he saw that this poor man’s feet were pierced. He raised his head with emotion, and cried, ‘It is Thou, then, O Lord!’” (Here M. Vianney burst into tears.) “Our Lord said to him, ‘John, I take pleasure in seeing what care thou takest of My poor;’ … and He disappeared.”

“Look at the good St. Gregory, who fed twelve poor men every day at his own table. One day there were thirteen, and he said to his servant, ‘There are thirteen poor men.’ The servant answered, ‘I see only twelve.’ The saint observed that this thirteenth changed colour; he was sometimes crimson, and sometimes as white as snow. When the repast was over, the Pope took this poor stranger by the hand, and, leading him aside, asked him, ‘Who art thou?’’”

“‘I am an angel’” (here the holy Curé wept again), “‘and our Lord sent me to consider closely the care you bestow on His poor. It is I who present to God your prayers and your alms.’ After these words, he disappeared. The table at which the angel sat may still be seen in Rome.”

“Some people say to the poor who seem to be in good health, ‘You are idle; you could work very well; you are young and strong.’ But you do not know whether it is not the will of God that this poor person should beg his bread, and thus you run the risk of opposing the will of God.”

“Look at the blessed Benedict Labre; every one repulsed him. He was called lazy. The children threw stones at him. This good saint knew that he was doing the will of God; he never answered a word. He once went to his confessor, who said to him, ‘My friend, I think you would do better to go into service; you make people offend the good God. The world says it is only laziness that makes you beg.’ Benedict Labre answered very humbly, ‘Father, it is the will of God that I should beg. Draw the curtain of your confessional, and you will see.’ … This priest opened it, and saw a light which lighted up all the chapels. He certainly took care not to hinder him in his way of life. … Well, my children, how do we know that there are not some like him? Therefore we should never repulse the poor. If we cannot give them any thing, we may pray God to inspire others to do so.”

“Some will say, ‘Oh! he makes a bad use of it.’ Let him make what use of it he will, the poor man will be judged by the use he has made of your alms, and you will be judged for the alms that you might have given and did not give.”

“We must never despise the poor, because that contempt is reflected back upon God.”