Video

Feast of St. John Vianney

8/4/2009

Memorial of Saint John Vianney
Sacred Heart Cathedral
August 4, 2009

Three years ago on the Memorial of Saint John Vianney, I was installed as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh.  On that day, I publicly thanked Almighty God for sending me to this vibrant and faith-filled local Church.  Ever since that day and more than ever, I express gratitude to the Lord for allowing me to serve in this Diocese and blessing me with the continued support of Bishop Gossman, the enthusiastic collaboration of my wonderful brother priests, the example of our Consecrated Religious, the assistance of all my colleagues in ministry and the prayers and witness of our lay faithful.  Today, I renew my promise to strive always to serve and love you with all my heart, in imitation of Christ, the Good Shepherd.

When John Vianney went to Ars, the spiritual life of the parish was dim and there were countless challenges similar to ours today.  Many in the village rejected Gospel values, displayed an indifference to moral teachings and had a deep attraction to the things of the material world.  Yet, with God’s amazing grace and the priestly service of John Vianney, the village of Ars was transformed.  It is important to remember, however, that this transformation did not occur overnight.  Prayer, perseverance and patience were required, and always with an abiding trust in the power of God to make all things new.

What kept John Vianney from “giving up” in the midst of the initial rejection he encountered?  Above all else, his intimate relationship with the Lord, rooted in a disciplined spiritual life, sustained him, as well as his knowledge that what his people needed most was not John Vianney. They needed the Lord, especially as He offers us Himself in the Eucharist, forgives us our sins in the Sacrament of Penance and guides us with His holy Word.  My brothers and sisters in Christ, transformation and conversion of heart can only occur when we receive, celebrate and cling to these precious gifts.

Allow me to speak directly to you, my brother priests, especially on this day we celebrate the Memorial of the patron of all priests.  First of all, I join the people you serve in expressing deep thanks to you for your dedicated priestly service. We need you and we need you at your very best! Thus, I respectfully encourage you on this special day to renew your commitment to a disciplined spiritual life rooted in fervent and constant prayer before the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. There you will find the strength to imitate the priestly zeal and pastoral charity of Saint John Vianney and, like him, be known for your joyful celebration of the Eucharist, generous availability as Confessor, faithful preaching of God’s holy Word and dedicated and selfless service.  In doing so, you bring your people what they need the most:  the healing, compassionate and miraculous love of Jesus Christ.

The statue we bless today will travel throughout our Diocese to each deanery so that we may lift up this great saint as the model for all of us. We seek his powerful intercession in providing our Diocese with more priests and consecrated religious and in leading us to a deeper holiness. In my homily at the Mass of Installation, I quoted Saint John Vianney as I invited all of us to an ongoing conversion.  I repeat those words today: “Let us break the bonds of sin, let us live in God, let us promise anew fidelity to Jesus Christ and stand firmly in our faith.”  If we respond to that call, then, with God’s grace, our Diocese, parishes and all of us will experience transformation and conversion of heart.  Remember what is needed:  prayer, perseverance, patience and abiding trust in the power of God to make all things new.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us today and always.  Amen.