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

""M."""""HIS INTERIOR TRIALS. 149dangerous snare, and source of manifold temptation.Unfortunately," says M. Monnin, his words upon thatsubject were not recorded ;which is the more to be regretted, as they touch upon a vital question, and wouldhave completed this remarkable enumeration of the dutiesand dangers of the life of a parish -priest."M. Vianney once said, in the anguish of his heart, to Jbeloved brother in the priesthood,"I am withering awaywith sadness upon this poor earth my soul : is sorrowful,even unto death. My ears hear nothing but horrors, whichpierce my heart. I have no time to pray. I can hold outQO longer. Tell me, would it be a great sin to disobeymy Bishop by running away secretly ?"le Cure,"was the reply,fche fruit of your labour, you have nothinggive way to this temptation."Another day, as he came from hisif you wish to lose allto do but toconfessional morebroken down than usual, he stopped to look at some fowlswhich had scratched a hole in the sand of his court-yard,and were resting there asleep in the cool shade, with their"heads under their wings. I think these hens are verysaid he. If they had but a soul, I should likehappy,"to be in their place."But the bitterest drop in his chalice was the perpetual vision of sin ;the daily insults offered to the Masterhe adored. My God," cried he one day, how longshall I dwell among sinners ? when shall I be with theSaints ? Our God is so continually offended, that one istempted to pray for the end of the world. If there werenot here and there some few holy souls, to console ourhearts, and rest our eyes, from allthe evil which we seeand hear, we could not bear up against all we have toendure in this life. When we think of the ingratitude of