“Vianney!”
…
The devil would contemptuously call to him thus…
St. John Vianney knew much about the devil and his temptations. He also knew much about the “morning-dew-piety” of presumptuous souls who trust in their own strength. For the Saint’s feast day I leave this quote, from one of his sermons on temptation:
“Look at this other one, who seems to want to give his whole life for God, whose ardor all the torments there are cannot damp. A tiny bit of scandalmongering … a word of calumny … even a slightly cold reception or a small injustice done to him … a kindness returned by ingratitude … immediately gives birth in him to feelings of hatred, of revenge, of dislike, to the point, often, of his never wishing to see his neighbor again or at least of treating him coldly with an air which shows very plainly what is going on in his heart. And how many times is this his waking thought, just as it was the thought that almost prevented him from sleeping? Alas, my dear brethren, we are poor stuff, and we should count very little upon our good resolutions!” - Source
August 4th, 2008 at 7:46 am
This is a good quote and reminder from St. John Vianney, Terry. It is such a testament to our times that we focus so much on sexual immoraility as the only cause of sin that we forget the many sins of the tongue, especially detraction, and our hidden malice (sins of thought) towards our fellows. Thank you for this good post Terry.
August 4th, 2008 at 11:25 am
This explains a lot. Now I understand some things about myself better ,and that I am not only going to hell ,but I am in fact racing to hell.
The more that I read from you people the more sure I am of it.
You boys always think of sex. I am telling you that there are a million more ways to earn a place in hell than with the sex sins. When I go hell sex will have nothing to do with it.
Jesus , please extend your Divine mercy to me a haughty, arrogant,unjust, unkind, person lacking compassion, and forgiveness to my fellow man.I am sorry.
My name is Belinda and I am a sinner..
August 4th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I love St. john Vianney. He has long been my favourite saint - ever since I first read a book about him. I love his humility, his spirit of penance and his meekness; all things I lack and need to work on!
If only we would hear sermons like his today.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Thanks for posting, Terry…
Very wise words.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:50 am
[...] to Terry from Abbey-Roads2. Eric, over at The Daily Eudemon, wrote a very interesting article on St. John Vianney as [...]