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

M.""68 THE CURl OF AR8.to M. Vianney.She also helped him to purchase land forthe support of the house."The good cure was now able to receive a few poorchildren. He began with two or three orphans, and in avery short time that little handful swelled to sixty, lodged,fed, and clothed at the expense of the Providence, preserved from vagrancy and its consequences, and shelteredfrom the dangers and scandals of their former way of life,in an atmosphere impregnated with the sweet odour ofJesus Christ. In order to receive this number,it wasnecessary to build ";and now le Cure became architect, mason, and carpenter. He spared himself no labour,but made the mortar, cut and carried the stones with hisown hands ; interrupting his beloved work only to go tohis confessional." Thus was founded the Providence ofArs, in faith and prayer and poverty, as have been allhouses which the Lord hath built. When shall we learnthus to cast ourselves and our works upon Him ? So onlycan we inherit the promises which belong to the poor inspirit, and enter upon the enjoyment of that kingdom, thatfree and royal spirit of joy and confidence in God, whichit is our Father sgood pleasure even in this life to giveunto the poor. All our miserable anxiety about the meansfor carrying on His work comes of our having still somelurking dependence upon our natural powers and gifts andpossessions, the boats and nets which we have left tofollow Christ. It comes of our still creeping timidly alongthe shore, instead of casting ourselves boldly upon thewide ocean of his providence, whose almighty hand isever stretched out for our support, and whose unchangingvoice still breathes in our ear, Why are you fearful,ye of little faith?""Now it was," says M. Monnin, th f M. Vianney