On August 4, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John Vianney, patron of priests. John Vianney, also known as the Holy Curé de Ars, was born May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, near Lyon, France to a family of farmers. Vianney slowly helped to revive the community’s faith through both his prayers and the witness of his lifestyle. He gave powerful homilies on the mercy and love of God, and it is said that even staunch sinners were converted upon hearing him. Firmly committed to the conversion of the people, he would spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional.