the Cure' - a Play by Church of St Anthony

Readings for 1 July 06
Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
Psalm 74
Matthew 8:5-17

Georgia & I went to watch a play put up by the church of St Anthony. We left Natalie with Ruby & Maryanne.

The play is about St John Mary Baptist Vianney, the Cure' of Ars, France. He is a little known saint, who is also the patron saint of diocesan priests.

"Our priests are stewards of the mysteries of God"

St John Vianney was a "dull" boy who almost could not be a priest,, as he was poor in latin and many of his subjects. There were many obstacles on his journey to be a priest too. However, he persisted, and finally became a priest.

He went to serve as a priest in Ars, a hotbed of sin and indulgement, condemned by others as lost cause. He survived on a diet of potatoes and water everyday. He took a strong stand against indulgences in drinking and dances and gave strong sermons to penetrate the hearts of the people. He was often beaten up for his strong stand. Though he loved evil, he has endless love for the poor and the forgotten.

St John Vianney spent 18 hours a day in the confessional, and his gift of discernment gave him intricate details of the lives of his penitents even though he had not met them before. He also suffered visits from the devil at nights for 35 years. he was mocked by the devil and tempted with sexual thoughts. Once his bed was even burned by the devil as St John Vianney was celebrating mass in church.

The play was long, almost 2 1/2 hours long. It was a play put up with love by the parishioner of St Anthony.

What touched me most was the scene of the confessionals, where people really queue up for confessions. The sacrament of reconciliation reunites us with God, by God absolving us of our sins, and we doing penance, not to sin against God anymore. St John is so dedicated to God. he is no scholar, but God chose him to carry out his work to save souls. It made me realise that all talents are gifts from God, and with God, nothing is impossible, if we only belived in Him and strive to do His will.