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

""Let""HIS RETURN. 193che people of Ars the speedy return of their beloved pastor.Never," says Catherine, were better tidingsheard."The news spread like lightning ;the village-street WEElined with people. The labourer left his work, the thresherthrew down his flail, the women ran out of their houses.Vidcttes were posted along the road to give notice of hisapproach. At last a Mgreat cry arose, There is the Saint !and his children crowded round him, struggling whichshould be first to get his blessing, to touch his cassock, orto kiss his feet. He walked round the market-place, leaning on the arm of M. Raymond, and shedding blessingsaround him like a Bishop. As soon as he could extricatehimself from the eager crowd, he went straight to thechurch, and said the evening prayers, amid the joyfu 1and grateful tears of his people.We cannot refrain from giving one more letter fromthe Corntesse des Garets. The tender and reverentialaffection of the pious family at the castle for their holypastor brings to mind the household at Bethany whom"Jesus loved." It would seem that our Lord was pleasedto vouchsafe to His faithful servant that refreshment inhis toils which He disdained not to accept Himself,consolation of a holy and faithful friendship.us bless and praise the Lord !Yesterday, at fiveo clock in the evening, the whole parish was still under theburden of sorrow.feared to have lost for ever.theWe were seeking our Saint, whom weA quarter of an hour afterwards the bells rang out a joyous peal ;all hurried to themarket-place to see the holy cure* arrive, dragging himselfalong with difficulty, leaning on his pilgrim s staff, and accompanied only by M. Raymond. The people all crowdedround him, laughing, crying, nearly stifling him with theirjoy and gratitude.As for himself, he stopped and smiled