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

"FromHIS LABOURS FOR SOULS. 69sphere of action. He was appointed to the cure of SnlLss,an important place in the canton of the Beaujolais. Therewas every thing attractive to nature in the proposed changeto a pure air, a bright sky, and lovely scenery, from thedull and heavy atmosphere of the Dombes. He refusednot to go at the voice of obe.dience ;but he was equallyready to remain in his obscure village, when the will ofDivine Providence was manifested that there was to behis abode for life.His poor furniture was actually twicepacked up, and twice brought back from the banks of theSaone, the swelling of the waters rendering it impossibleto cross the river. His poor people had been inconsolablefrom the first intimation of his approaching removal. Mdlle.d Ars, in the energy of her grief and displeasure, wrote, inone of her familiar letters, of nothing less than stranglingthe Vicar- General. The impending evil was happilyaverted by. milder means.The parishioners, having ascertained that their pastor had no desire to leave them, andno wish but for the accomplishment of the will of God,took advantage of the providential delay occasioned bythe swelling of the river, to address so effectual a remonstrance to the Vicar-General as induced him to cancel hisappointment, and leave their beloved cure at their head.that time forth," says M. Monnin, "M.Vianneyidentified himself more and more with his parishioners.All his thoughts were concentrated upon them ; theirpeace was his peace; their joys his joys; their troubleshis sorrows; their virtues his crown. He bound himselfto their souls, as the serf to the land he tills.His horizonin this world was henceforth bounded by the limits ofthat little spot of Christian earth, where all the providential preparations of his life were to find their accomplishment. His activity was to have but one end, the