St. Jean Vianney, pray for us.

Not long ago I was reading a story about a lesbian who abandoned the lifestyle. The catalyst was her mom saying, "I'm afraid after I die I'll never see you again." At Mass this morning I couldn't stop thinking about her story and my own extended family. Like this mom, I'm afraid there are members of my family I will never see again after I die, and it grieves my heart to think so. Are all the people turning their backs on God's law invincibly ignorant? How many who should know God's will are choosing to stay ignorant? 

Today is the feast of St. Jean Vianney, the curé of Ars, who turned a parish of sinners into a parish of sinners striving to be saints. He wasn't a particularly gifted preacher, but he was a champion intercessor. Like the three little children of Fatima, he had a zeal for souls that motivated him to spend 12-14 hours a day in the confessional. He often boiled a pot of potatoes at the beginning of the week and ate them every day -- and little else. He got almost no sleep because the devil attacked him most nights literally shaking his bed. We'll never know this side of heaven all the heroic sacrifices that holy priest performed for the salvation of souls. He loved his parishioners that much!

St. Jean Vianney, please intercede for me that I might be on fire with love and zeal for souls. Help me to have your spirit of sacrifice, through Christ our Lord, Amen.