The Grace of Ars by Frederick L. Miller

St. John Vianney, the famous Cure of Ars, is the patron saint of all parish priests. Pope Benedict XVI has held him up as the role model to follow in the recently declared Year for priests (2009-2010). Priests and seminarians who wish to strengthen their commitment to the priesthood as well as men who are discerning the call of Christ in their lives will be inspired and encouraged by reflection on the life and vocation of the great Cure of Ars. And here is the book to bring that inspiration home. Fr. Frederick Miller has taken many groups of priests and seminarians on pilgrimage to Ars, France, and where he leads retreats based on the life and ministry of St. John Vianney. Based on his years of personal experience at Ars, and the impact that the holy Cure has had on men who go there to learn from his inspiring life and work, this book is the distillation of wisdom and grace that Saint John Vianney has passed on to his brother priests. Through beautiful reflections that focus on many aspects of the life of Vianney, we learn what it means to be priest during difficult times. The saint lived out his priesthood in the aftermath of the French Revolution; a very difficult time for Catholic priests in France. This book reveals that specific Grace of Ars - the unique movement of God that drew hundreds of thousands of people to Ars during hi life there to recieve the sacrament of reconciliation from Vianney and find peace with God and neighbor. Including eight pages of color illustration, this is a treasury of spiritual wisdom that will take you along on a pilgrimage to the very place where St. John Vianney labored so long and so heroically for the good of souls and the love of God, often in direct battle with Satan. The reader will have the experience of making a retreat in the presence of the saintly Cure, and be able to ponder the Grace of Ars, in particular what he has to say to his fellow priests of the twenty-first century; another difficult time for those who seek to be faithful to their promises to God and build up the Church of Christ. But this is not a book only for priests. Laymen will find in this reflection on St. John Vianney a model parish priest who will inspire all to love the priesthood and pray for the sanctification of all priests. Through his holy example the Cure of Ars will help all understand that the priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.