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

"When"BIS OAT S WORK. 173across the market-place to converse with his missionariesat the Providence* on matters affecting the parish or thepilgrimage, there was an instantaneous rush upon him, sovehement that two men were generally needed to restrainit. He merely passed through the refectory of the missionaries, without ever sitting down. The few minuteswhich he devoted to this visit were divided between hisfellow-labourers and such pilgrims as by special favourhad gained an entrance into the house, and now filled allthe rooms, corridors, and passages.he returned to the church, he had to passthrough the same unavoidable lines of living fortifications,which had re-formed during his absence. Here, above all,it became necessary to use force, in order to repressturbance, and to install M. Vianney again in his chapel,spite of the murmurs of some and the violence of others.He first said his Vespers on his knees, and then heard confessions until five o clock. Then he proceeded to the sacristywhere he heard the men as in the morning, havingfirst confessed some of the women, who were unable to wait, behindthe high altar.disThere was always a press of people beforehim, whenever he moved from one part of the church toanother. The greater number of those who came to Arsmade general confessions. M. Vianney willingly devotedhimself to this laborious ministry, as the means of snatching souls from hell by the reparation of sacrileges.This was, perhaps, the most consoling result of thepilgrimage. Ars was a great spiritual hospital, whereevery variety of moral evil was laid open for healing. Not-* The house formerly used for the orphanage was latterlyappropriated to the missionaries sent by the Bishop to assist M.Vianney, to whose zealous efforts this congregation of missionarypriests owed its foundation.