The True Heart of a Saint

Our summer was blessed by a visit from the true heart of a saint....

~St. John Mary Vianney~
"The interior life is like a sea of love in which the soul is plunged and is, as it were, drowned in love.  Just as a mother holds her child's face in her hands to cover it with kisses, so does God hold the devout man."~St. John Vianney~

About a month ago, our diocese welcomed the true Heart of St. John Vianney!

We thought it would be fitting to share some photos of our visit with St. John Vianney's incorrupt heart, in honor of his feast day~August 4th~

I pray that you find these pictures beautiful, respectful, and reverent of the remains of this holy saint, in the presence of Our Lord.

Oh what a treasure to behold the presence of this relic!

We learned that the word "relic" comes from the Latin (relinquo)word, meaning "I leave."  Relics are the physical remains (or objects associated with them in life) of the saints.  They are gifts left behind by the saints to help us to be open to the grace of the sacraments.

Having the opportunity to venerate the incorrupt heart (relic) of St.  John Vianney was a definite reminder of God's intervention in our life!

My dear friend Kim took these photos during our visit to venerate the heart of St. John Vianney and Adore our beloved Jesus in our very own diocese. We took our kids who found the experience "fascinating" and "amazing." I doubt that any of them will forget this pilgrimage, nor will I.

"The eyes of the world see no further than this life, as mine see no further than this wall when the church door is shut.  The eyes of a Christian see deep into eternity."~St. John Vianney~

St. John Vianney's heart radiated pure love...
"Love of our neighbor consists of three things:  to desire the greater good of everyone; to do what good we can when we can; to bear, excuse, and hide other's faults."
~St. John Vianney~

"We must never lose site of the fact that we are either saints or outcasts, that we must live for heaven or for hell: there is no middle path in this.  You either belong wholly to  the world or wholly to God.  If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a great number of Christians would go to heaven."~St. John Vianney~

"You must accept your cross; if you carry it courageously it will carry you to heaven.  God commands you to pray, but he forbids you to worry."~St. John Vianney~

"The more we pray, the more we wish to pray.  Like fish which at first swims on the surface of the water, and afterwards plunges down, and is always going deeper; the soul plunges, dives, and loses itself in the sweetness of conversing with God."~St. John Vianney~

"...When Our Lord sees pure souls coming eagerly to visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament he smiles on them.  They come with the simplicity that pleases Him so much"~St. John Vianney~

"To decorate the houses with religious pictures is a custom as old as Christianity itself, for a true Christian has always considered his home as nothing less than a Temple of God, and the religious pictures as means to extend and preserve the spirit of Christianity in the home."~St. John Vianney~

"Our home is--Heaven.  On earth we are like travelers staying at a hotel.  When one is away, one is always thinking of home."~St. John Vianney~

"Mary seeks for those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts us as her children."~St. John Vianney~


Almighty and merciful God, Who didst bestow upon blessed John Mary Vianney wonderful pastoral zeal and a great fervor for prayer and penance, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession we may be able to gain the souls of our brethren for Christ, and with them attain to everlasting glory, through the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen
~St. John Vianney, please pray for us!~


Resources:
The Cure of Ars for children
Relics
St. John Vianney's Incorrupt Heart
Coloring Page by Waltzing Matilda
 I gleaned all of the quotes from the book "Quotable Saints" by Ronda De Sola Chervin