Life of St John Vianney.pdf - the Catholic Kingdom!

"THE DEVIL TORMENTS HIM. 121applying fire and steel to the most sensitive parts of hiebeing. Such, at the period of his history at which wehave arrived, was the Cure of Ars. Having overcome theslavery of self, he was free to follow every impulse of thefloly G-host. He had removed all the hindrances, andbroken all the bonds, which could attach his heart to anything below the Supreme Good. His will soared abovethis world, in union with the will of God. Hisdesires, his affections, were, so to speak, deified ;views, hishis expanded heart included all creatures in its wide and fraternal embrace. He had but one wish, that God s nameshould be hallowed ;His kingdom come ;His will be doneon earth, as it is in heaven." With Him, as with St.Paul, to live was Christ ; and it was manifest to all whosaw him, that Christ lived in him.CHAPTER VIII.The sufferings inflicted on him by the devil.To the ceaseless warfare which, as we have seen, this holypriest waged with his own body, was added a sensible persecution from the powers of evil, as rare in these days asthe heroic sanctity which called it forth. M. Vianneythus described the first of these fearful visitations, whichtook place just after the foundation of the Providence :The first time the devil came to torment me was atabout nine o clock at night, just as I was going to bed.Three great blows sounded on the outer door, as if someone were trying to break itopen with an enormous club.I immediately opened my window, and said, Who isthere ? but I saw nothing. So I went quietly to bed,recommending myself to God, the holy Virgin, and my