St. John Vianney - Vianney Speaks

Recently a a television special entitled, Vianney Speaks, premiered on EWTN and is now available on DVD.  You may watch the trailer here.

The wonderful idea for this made-for-television program originated with the highly praised play about life of St. John Vianney by Leonardo Defilippis.  Leonardo is an actor, director, producer and the founder and president of Saint Luke Productions and Luke Films  StLukeProductions.com
My friend, Joseph told me about the play and now I am very excited to see it!

Here is an excerpt from a recent interview with Leonardo Defilippis (paraphrased and edited by Soutenus):

How is John Vianney relevant today?

John Vianney is the remedy to our society' ills today. Many people don’t believe in the devil. Many Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence because they’ve been led astray by the devil. But John Vianney helps you understand the true presence of God by basically putting a focal point on confession, the key to breaking the paralysis of blindness and sin to see the presence of God in the Eucharist.
He is the greatest confessor in the history of the Church. He heard more confessions than any other priest in history.

He was able to convert every single soul in his village. All the bad marriages reconciled; all the drunkards. They were all living in harmony, one mind and one heart in the parish. God used him through much suffering to bring all souls to Christ and into the Church. Everyone came from all over Europe to be near this priest and village of holy people.

So, in the midst of a terrible time, God gave us an echo of what really shall be. And God didn’t choose a professor or one of the best preachers. He chose the lowliest person to confound the proud. The dumbest seminarian is now the patron saint of all of them. That’s God’s sense of humor. He chose the littlest child. John Vianney, through pure grace, becomes one of the wisest priests God has given us.
Because he chooses the weakest vessels, echoed always in the Scriptures, it gives people hope God can use me, too. That’s another reason John Vianney is so relevant today.

I think the Pope (Benedict XVI) created the Year of the Priest on the 150th anniversary of John Vianney’s death to show how important it was to inspire priests — and all laity too — to look to John Vianney, so not one scandal, difficulty and cross will shake them and nobody will be paralyzed by sins.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/actor-brings-st.-john-vianney-to-life-on-ewtn1/#ixzz1bLu2E9FY

Prayer by St. Teresa of Avila

Lord,

Thou knowest better than I myself
that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking
I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to
straighten out everybody’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody;
helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom,
it seems a pity not to use it all;
but Thou knowest, Lord,
that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains;
they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them
is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness
when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person
is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places
and talents in unexpected people;
and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen.

- – - prayer by St. Teresa of Avila

Read more at Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila