Today's Gospel in Art - Feast of Saint John Vianney

Relic of St John Vianney holding the saint's heart, St Patrick's Cathedral, New York, 2018, © Chris Sheridan / Archdiocese of New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 4th August 2021 - Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.' But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. 'Give her what she wants,' they said 'because she is shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.' But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. 'Lord,' she said 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the house-dogs.' She retorted, 'Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master's table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Reflection on the Relic

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of St. John Vianney (1786-1859), patron saint of parish priests. Growing up in the aftermath of the French Revolution, he received little education. Given the anticlerical sentiment that reigned at the time, he was forced to make his First Communion and also his Confirmation in secret. It was during that time that he became impressed by and in awe of the heroism that the nuns and priests displayed, risking their lives for their faith. After a short-lived stint in Napoleon's army in 1809, he continued his studies (struggling mainly with Latin) and became priest of the small village of Ars in 1818. By 1827 Ars had become one of the main pilgrimage sites in Europe, and every year until Vianney's death, about 20,000 people visited Ars to see St. John Vianney. They came especially for the sacrament of reconciliation. The holy Curé d'Ars spent up to 15 hours daily in his confessional. Today we commemorate the date of his death.

One of my favourite little things about St John Vianney is how he always referred to God as Le Bon Dieu, the Good God: a simple but beautiful, affectionate way to talk about Our Lord. God is good indeed, and He showers His goodness upon us, every day. St John gave us this beautiful quote about the eucharist:

'There is nothing so great as the Eucharist.

If God had something more precious,

He would have given it to us.'

In November 2018, a relic of St John Vianney was transported to the United States for a six-month nationwide tour, covering churches and seminaries. By the end of the tour, this relic in a gilt bronze neo-gothic style casing had travelled almost 36,000 miles (about one and a half times the circumference of the Earth). Over 1,200 hours of public veneration took place in front of the relic. As he had given his heart to Christ, people could pray in front of his heart which was totally devoted… to our Good Lord.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/888
Christian Art - www.christian.art