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

""WhenHIS FIRST STUDIES. 19failed, having first made his thanksgivingBlessed Sacrament, to pay a visit to the imagebefore theof theBlessed Virgin. He then returned to his work with alight heart and bright countenance. Sometimes hisbrothers or companions would amuse themselves withhiding his tools during his absence. Nothing ever puthim out of humour ;he would seem quite to enjoy tlicjoke, and when he found out the culprit, would thank lii:nfor taking care of his tools, and promise to do the s;i;uegood turn for him another time.The Cure of Ars dearly loved the remembrance ofthese days of rustic labour, and would often speak ofthem to his intimate friends.I was young,"heused to say,I tilled the ground.I am not ashamed ofit ;I am nothing but an ignorant husbandman. I oftenused to sny to myself, as I struck my pickaxeinto theground, So shouldst thou cultivate thy soul ; so pluck upthe evil weeds to prepare it for the good seed of the goodGod."CHAPTER II.His first studies He is drawn for the conscription His escapeand concealment.AT length the revolution had worn itself out ;and France,weary of herself, had taken shelter under the strong handof Napoleon. One of his first acts was to restore a measureof liberty to the Church. But the deep wounds whichhad been inflicted on her were beyond the power of soldieror statesman to heal. Her temples were re-opened, andher altars raised again ;but her faithful priests had perishedon the guillotine, or pined away in exile, and who was tominister in their stead ? The town of Ecully was especially