St. John Vianney Novena

St. John Vianney banner

All Maine Catholics are invited to participate in a novena for priests and vocations to the priesthood each evening starting on July 27 and running through August 4, the feast day of St. John Vianney.

The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Vianney was born during the days of the French Revolution and ordained to the priesthood in 1815. Three years later, he was made the curé or parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a gifted spiritual director and confessor made him known throughout the Christian world. Bishops, fellow priests, and laypeople would travel to Ars to seek his counsel. He heard confessions 16 to 18 hours day from people all over the world. He life was also filled with works of charity and love, including the founding of an orphanage for girls. He died on August 4, 1859, at age 73 and was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 31, 1925.

In-Person Novena Gatherings

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Old Town

The novena will be prayed each night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the churches of the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord in Old Town. The schedule is as follows:

July 27 - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street in Old Town
July 28 - Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue in Orono
July 29 - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street in Old Town
July 30 - St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street in Bradley
July 31 - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street in Old Town
August 1 - St. Ann, 6 Down Street, Penobscot Nation
August 2 - Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue in Orono
August 3 - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street in Old Town
August 4 - Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue in Orono

You'll find more details here: https://resurrectionofthelord.org/vianney. All are welcome to join in prayer. 

Novena Booklet

A booklet for the novena can be found here.

Themes

  • Day One: The support and faith of the family:
  • Day Two: Faith and trust in the Lord
  • Day Three: Simplicity and purity of life
  • Day Four: Holy confessor
  • Day Five: Lover of the Eucharist
  • Day Six: Model of prayer
  • Day Seven: Warrior against Satan
  • Day Eight: The heart of the priest is the heart of Christ.
  • Day Nine: Mary, our spiritual mother

St. John Vianney Quote

"All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison, for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man."