Shrine of St. John Vianney
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Only five years after St. John Vianney was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in Rome, Father William Baldus, the pastor of Saint Mary Newport, established a shrine with the permission of Archbishop Michael J. Curley, the Archbishop of Baltimore. From that moment onward, the Newport shrine began attracting increasingly larger numbers of pilgrims, many of whom traveled by bus throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Many years later, Father James Grace wrote, “It seems to us more than a coincidence that the first shrine to the Saint in this country should have been started by a country pastor in a little rural church dedicated to Mary.” Not long after Father Baldus’ passing, an article appeared in the Maryland Independent about the shrine here at Saint Mary where it was reported that “in this little church, in one of the oldest dioceses in the country, there have been performed recently cures that are well-nigh miraculous.”
The United States' only shrine to St. John Vianney was rededicated by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl on August 3, 2014, at a special Sunday Mass attended by parishioners, clergy, the Knights of Columbus, members of the Baldus family, representatives of historical societies and many other honored guests. At the conclusion of the rededication Mass the Cardinal led a procession to our cemetery where he blessed the grave of Father William Baldus, the pastor responsible for the shrine.
The shrine includes a nearly life-sized statue of Saint John donated by a New York benefactor and a first-class relic of the Curé sent to Father Baldus by the then pastor of Ars in France.
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WHO WAS SAINT JOHN VIANNEY?Saint John Vianney, also known as the Holy Curé de Ars, was not someone others would have marked out for greatness. Although diminutive in stature and plain in appearance, through his whole-hearted commitment to his priesthood and his parish, he became one of the greatest saints of modern times to his. Although he saw himself as unworthy of his mission as pastor, he allowed himself to be consumed by the love of God as he served his parish. He brought many fallen-away Catholics back to the Church through his prayers and by the witness of his lifestyle. He gave powerful homilies on the mercy and love of God, and it is said that even staunch sinners were converted upon hearing him. In addition, he restored his church, formed an orphanage, and cared for the poor.
The Curé’s reputation as a confessor grew rapidly, and pilgrims traveled from all over France to come to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Firmly committed to the conversion of the people, he would spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional. Plagued by many trials and frequently attacked by the devil, John Vianney remained firm in his faith. Dedicated to the Eucharist, he spent much time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and practiced much mortification. He lived on little food and sleep, while working without rest in unfailing humility, gentleness, patience, and cheerfulness, until he was well into his 70s.
Born John-Marie Baptiste Vianney on May 8, 1786, in Dardilly, near Lyons, he was the son of humble, devout peasants, Mathieu Vianney and Marie Béluze. His early years were shadowed by the turbulent events of the French Revolution, during which the Jacobins, aided by the Freemasons, systematically hunted down and executed priests and their faithful supporters. Despite the grave dangers of the time, young Jean-Marie secretly studied the catechism and developed an intense love for Jesus Christ. This love grew in him as he pondered the extraordinary sacrifices being made by countless individuals who chose to stand with Christ, even in the face of brutal persecution.
One pivotal moment in his life came when he received his First Communion during a clandestine Mass held in a home near Écully, close to his native parish. This experience deepened his resolve to dedicate his life to the service of God. It was on August 13, 1815, that John Vianney was ordained to the priesthood in the chapel of the Seminary at Grenoble, embarking on an extraordinary journey that would forever change the tiny French town of Ars.
Upon his arrival in Ars, he found himself almost alone in the church as he approached the altar to celebrate Mass. However, as more people became curious about this unassuming priest and his way of life, they discovered him in perpetual prayer before the Tabernacle. His devotion to the Eucharist was evident to all who observed him, and he appeared to have a profound and intimate connection with the Divine. His words during Mass were not merely recitations; they were fiery declarations of God's love, His mercy, and the eternal significance of a life dedicated to Christ.
The meager sustenance John Vianney subsisted on soon became known through the accounts of pious women who assisted him. His diet consisted of a simple fare—dry bread and a few boiled potatoes. These devoted women also spoke of traces of blood they had observed on his plain clothing, evidence of his personal mortifications and spiritual battles.
While in the confessional, he demonstrated incredible kindness, meekness, and gentleness, assuming the role of a compassionate father, ready to offer the message of Christ's love to his parishioners. His primary message was one of profound love for Jesus Christ and the possibility of a deep, personal relationship with Him. Even the most hardened sinners were unable to resist his magnetic appeal, and those who were furthest from God were drawn to Ars to hear him.
His dedication to the confessional was nothing short of extraordinary. He often spent up to 16 hours a day hearing confessions. In this sacrament of reconciliation, he served as a conduit for God's forgiveness, guiding countless souls back to the path of righteousness. Ars quickly transformed under his influence, with vices such as dancing, drunkenness, and swearing disappearing from the town. Even the most wayward individuals experienced profound conversions.
In 1823, the Bishop elevated Ars to the status of a parish, a development that John Vianney was hesitant to accept due to his deep sense of unworthiness. Nevertheless, he remained obedient and continued his mission. By 1827, he jubilantly declared to his parishioners, "Ars, my brothers and sisters, is no longer Ars!" His pastoral approach was remarkably simple—there were no elaborate plans or analyses. His priesthood was his primary tool, and he strived daily to become "another Christ."
His understanding of the priesthood's sacredness was unwavering, as he believed that a priest's true significance would only be fully comprehended in the hereafter. To him, a priest was central to the spiritual well-being of a community. He wrote, "After God, the priest is everything," emphasizing the priest's role as the key to unlocking the treasures of Heaven. The first treasure to be unlocked, according to John Vianney, was God's forgiveness. He was truly the priest of the confessional, a place where countless souls found solace and renewal.
On August 4, 1859, John Vianney's earthly journey came to an end, and he entered into eternal life. On May 31, 1925, Pope Pius XI canonized him as a saint, and on April 23, 1928, declared him the Patron of the world's parish priests. His feast day is celebrated on August 4, each year.
The legacy of Saint John Vianney endures as a powerful testament to the extraordinary impact one person can have through unwavering faith and dedicated service. His life, filled with love, devotion, and a tireless commitment to his priestly calling, continues to inspire and guide countless souls on their own spiritual journeys. In a world that often seeks greatness in grand gestures, John Vianney's simple, humble life serves as a reminder that true greatness is found in the profound and unselfish love of God and service to others.
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“May [St. John Vianney's] great humility be an example to you, dear young people, to live life as a gift of God; may his trusting abandonment to Christ the Saviour sustain you, dear people suffering illness, in the hour of suffering; and may his Christian witness give courage to you, dear newlyweds, to profess your faith without shame.”
Pope Francis
August 3, 2016
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