Preface

The following pages have been translated, by the kind permission of the Abbé Monnin, from the small volume lately published by him, under the title of Esprit du Curé d’Ars. To this it has been thought well to add the exhortations of M. Vianney, given in a book called, Ars: ou, Le Jeune Philosophe redevenu Chrétien, and published by Perisse Frères, in 1856.

The devotion to the holy Curé of Ars is now so widely spread in England, that a few words concerning the present state of the scene of his labours may be found acceptable.

All is as he left it but five years ago. The little church remains unchanged, except that his body lies beneath a black slab in the centre of its nave; for the magnificent chapel of St. Philomena, which was planned under his direction, will not be completed before next year. Altar and chair, pulpit and confessional, remain as he used them, to recall the inspired words and the heroic life which made the once neglected church of Ars one of the favourite pilgrimages of Europe. That pilgrimage is continued now; and scarcely a week passes without some miraculous events, to reward the faith of those who perform it, and to show that his blessing rests upon it still.

Ars is visited by considerable numbers of persons at all times of the year; but especially about the 4th of August, the anniversary of the death of M. Vianney. The daily morning and evening instructions are carried on by the missionaries whom he associated with himself in his work; and the Retreats which he founded are still given twice in every month.

The few objects which the holy Curé used are collected together in his room, to the door of which the faithful are admitted. The uneven staircase and brick floor, the rough lantern and earthenware pipkin, are characteristic of him in whose mouth “poor” was the favourite epithet for all belonging to himself; while the embroidered vestments, jewelled chalices, and marble altars, bespeak his love for the beauty of the house of God.

Those who knew him intimately for many years are there to speak of his holiness. The missionaries who shared his labours, the Brother of the Holy Family who was constantly at his side, and the devout persons whose privilege it was to serve him, bear joyful witness to wonders which fell under their own observation, and to that supernatural life of their Pastor which was the greatest miracle of all.

It is understood that the Holy Father has expressed great interest in the Beatification of the Curé of Ars, and has desired that his cause may be introduced to the Roman Congregation as soon as possible. The devotion of the people, who regard him as a saint, has rendered it necessary to remove the railings which at first surrounded his tomb; and the ex-voto offerings with which they were abundantly covered have been reserved until the time when the Church shall authorise such public expressions of veneration.

If we have ever thought, in reading of the apostolic labours of saints who lived in times gone by, that the uncompromising severity of their teaching would have been modified by the altered circumstances of our own age, the life of the Curé of Ars shows us that we were mistaken. We see him in the midst of a neighbouring people, the trusted guide of every class of Christians. Every doubt that could arise from the exigencies of the nineteenth century, concerning theology, politics, or even fashion, was submitted to his decision; and he answered one and all in words which might have fallen from St. Vincent Ferrer or the B. Leonard of Port Maurice. Thus, when we hear of the numbers of all ranks and conditions who crowded from town and country into the secluded village church to hear his simple exhortations, our thoughts go back to the time when Pharisees and Sadducees, soldiers and publicans, thronged the desert-banks of the Jordan to hear the preaching of St. John Baptist, and to be told that they must do penance, because the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

In perusing the instructions of the Curé of Ars, we may miss the sweetness of his voice, or the bright look and affectionate manner with which they were wont to be accompanied; but our hearts burn within us as we read, for they come from a saint on fire with the love of God, who was raised up in an unbelieving generation to carry on the old tradition, and to sanctify the world by the simple preaching of the Cross.