Saint John Vianney coloring page: August 4th

John Vianney was born in 1796 in France, where he was a poor shepherd. As that time, the Church still being persecuted as a result of the French Revolution.  All religious activities, such as mass, were held in secret by priests who risked their lives to do so. At 13, John secretly made his first Holy Communion. By the time John began studying for the priesthood, the Catholic Church was no longer under persecution.

Studying was not easy for John. In fact, he had trouble learning Latin and failed his examinations in seminary multiple times. Finally, he was ordained a priest in 1812. His first parish was in Ars, France, which is why he is also referred to as the “Cure of Ars.” Perhaps what John Vianney was most known for is the amount of time he spent hearing confessions. Sometimes, he would spend up to 18 hours a day in the confessional.

Many miracles occurred through the intercession of St. John Vianney. To this day, his body is incorrupt and can be visited in the same city where he was a parish priest.

Click the image below to print the coloring page.