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

"342 THE CURlS OF ARS.all lost, what can never be replaced. God will not lavishsuch miracles of grace and sanctity upon us. Francehas lost a priest who was an honour to her, and to whomher children came from her remotest provinces forcounsel. And poor sinners, what have they lost in the irresistible words, and still more resistless tears, wont tolure them back to God ! Our diocese has experienceda most heavy loss. The Cure of Ars was its glory andits providence, and the founder of the missionary workwhich has broughtit so many blessings. More thanninety parishes will owe to him the perpetual boon of amission once in every ten years. And how many otherworks of charity did he encourage, bless, and foster !loss. He"YourBishop, too, has endured a heavyhas lost a father, a friend, a model. Poor holy cure.At our firstmeeting he came to me trembling. Mgr.Devie and Mgr. Chalandon had been so good, so especially good to him There !is always something of anxietyin the reception of a new Bishop, and he had so deep areverence for the episcopal character. How often haveI seen him, on the first tidings of my arrival, hasten tothis very spot, and kneel for my blessing, amid the involuntary murmur of astonishment which would sometimes escape from the crowd, to see such exalted sanctitybow before the simple episcopal character ! But the fearwhich was a restraint upon our first intercourse soondisappeared and he came to love me, I believe I am;sure as tenderly as I loved him.Yes, I repeat, we have all lost much ;but thesewords, Euge, intra in gaudiuml Courage,enter intojoy/ ought to stay the course, if not of our tears, atleast of our complaints, our murmurs, even of our overkeenregrets. Good and faithful servant, your day s