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

""340 THE CURtf OF ARS.time the true proof of true love. In this consists goodservice, service tried and proved; such was the solid andenduring goodness of the Cure of Ars.To the austerity of a life such as we have sketched,and you have witnessed, he added many other mortifications ;he had almost continual sufferings to endure,and God laid upon him, from time to time, the burden ofsecret and mysterious trials.So faithful, moreover, wasthis good and painful service, that no movement of selfloveever tarnished its perfect and entire fidelity. Whatthis holy priest did for God, he left wholly to God.That poor country cure was as simple as a child, amidthe throng of pilgrims which surrounded him. Youhave seen him, all you who are here present you have;heard him. Is not this the truth, the exact truth ? Testimonies of admiration and reverence, the most numerousand most varied, had no power to move him. He gavehis blessing to the multitude, as one who had himselfreceived the benediction of a greater than he.Euge, serve bone et fidelis! These sacred words,Courage, good and faithful servant, have a marvellousfitness when addressed to him ! But no ; I speak themnot for him, but for ourselves. !Courage Let us notweep as those who have no hope.* Hope here is almostfaith. Suffer me now, my brethren, to open my inmostheart more fully to you. Having been providentiallywarned of the rapid progress of the malady of our dear&nd venerated Cure of Ars, I hastened hither. I recitedmy Office on the way. It was the Office of St. Dominic,another t?iie and faithful servant. In union with JesusChrist, the Head of the Church, I love, when I say theBreviary, to unite myself with the Saint whose festivallThess.iT.12.