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

"M.HIS SECOND ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE. 209you have the courage to leave unfinished the confessions ofthese poor pilgrims who have come from so far ? Will younot have to answer for their souls before God ? * Everyword was echoed by the crowd of strangers and parishioners, who fell at the feet of the holy priest, crying withheart-rending sobs, Yes, father ; let us finish our confession ;do not go without hearing us. And thus saying, they rather carried than led him to the church."The holy cure knelt, according to his custom, beforethe sanctuary, and wept for a long time ;then he wentinto the sacristy, remained there for some minutes withM. des Garets ;and then went quietly into his confessional, as if nothing had happened.Meanwhile the Vicar-General of the diocese, the AbbeBaux (M. Vianneysconfessor), and M. Raymond, hisformer coadjutor and beloved friend, had been summoned, and used every argument in their power toinduce him to remain. He would make no promise.In the three following days, as if in recompense ofthesacrifice he had made of his own will, the holy curewas visited by extraordinary graces and consolations.When questioned afterwards by M. Toccanier as to themotive of his intended flight, he answered, that he wishedto throw the responsibility upon the good God, and to beable to say to Him,"If I have died a parish-priest, it hasbeen Thine own doing, and no fault of mine."Our Lord seems to have been willing to show that Heaccepted the burden thus laid upon Him, by interposingon more than one occasion to prevent his removal."On the 26th of January 1855," writes M. Toccanier,Viauney snephew came from Dardilly to beghim to come and visit his father on his death-bed. Thecure said to me ;