The Little Catechism of The Cure of Ars

by John Vianney

Catholic wisdom stated in a simple, sublime, penetrating way. St. Jean-Marie Vianney's sage counsel on 36 important topics, including the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin, Prayer, Suffering, Hope, Envy, Grace, and Paradise. Probably the most persuasive exhortation ever urging us to renounce sin. Highly recommended for every Catholic!

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Spirituality

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1845

About the author

St. Jean-Marie Vianney was born in 1786 at Dardilly, France. After being drafted, leaving the army, and opening a school for village schoolchildren, he joined the minor seminary of Verrieres in 1812 and was ordained a priest three years afterward.

He is often referred to as the "Curé d'Ars". He became internationally notable for his priestly and pastoral work in his parish because of the radical spiritual transformation of the community and its surroundings due to his saintly life, mortification, his persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession, and his ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Saint Philomena.

St. Vianney died at Ars-sur-Formans, France, in 1859, and was declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925. His feast day is celebrated on the fourth of August.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book, easy to read! I loved how it had such short chapters (most were only 2-3 pages), so it was easy to pick up without committing to sitting and reading for a period of time. :) Great content. Each chapter focused on a different topic (everything from Prayer, Grace, and the Mass - to going through each of the 7 deadly sins and temptation, death, etc.)

There were lots of inspiring quotes throughout the book, but my favorite is "Life is given us that we might learn to die well."

[Diana Ragsdale]

Spiritually refreshing! I love St. John Vianney's beautiful meditations. This a motivational and easy to read book if you want to jumpstart your prayers with inspiring words on the interior life. I'll definitely be rereading in the future!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this used for $1 from a little bookstore at my university Newman Center. A great one to revisit!

"If we have abused the graces that the good God has given us, let us make haste to repair the past by great fidelity, and let us endeavor to acquire merits worthy of eternal life."

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Refreshing and always edifying to read about the words and wisdom of the saints.

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

97/100 (= 5.8/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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A life changer. An excellent wake-up call for lukewarm Catholics. Great re-conversion reading.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and yet profound advice. St John Vianney is a great saint, deeply in love with Our Lord. There are hardly any chapters where I didn't highlighted something. I read it slowly, a chapter a day. Sometimes I went back I read a paragraph or whole chapter again. It is a very short book but I wanted to take my time.

My only complain is that the introduction was way too long and frankly, pointless. I would have been happy with a short biography: date of birth, how he ended up being a priest in a remote village and his death. All the person or persons did was quote St John Vianney in every page, in almost every paragraph. And all the quotes are in the different chapters so... waste of paper and my time.

I am glad I got to know this saint and read his thoughts and very wise counsel.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a small book, but a very good one! It was easy to read just a chapter a day and gave me something to reflect and meditate upon. I loved how it gave me access to the words a Saint said, and into his way of thinking. A very good book!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love St Jean-Baptiste Vianney, and these short chapters of instruction were great. The perfect length for a short meditation.

[Josh Marquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and concise. A relatively easy read if you take your time but don't rush through it!

[Michaël R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deze verzameling preken voelt in eerste instantie aan als een soort Summa Theologica in eenvoudige taal. De heilige Jean-Marie Vianney legt basisgedachtes uit over God, over wij mensen, over de deugden en Jezus. Toch lijk ik hiermee onrecht te doen aan de bespiegelingen van de heilige Thomas van Aquino, alsof zij de evangelische eenvoud zouden ontbreken. Hieronder orden ik mijn gedachten erover.

Hoewel Thomas van Aquino schrijft in het bijzonder voor diegenen die intellectueel dorst hebben, en dus zeer precies zijn betoog voert, bouwt hij desondanks in een eenvoudige taal. Bij hem staat er geen woord te veel. Wat de tekst krachtig maakt, maar niet in ieders oor gemakkelijk ligt om de redenering te kunnen volgen.
Jean-Marie Vianney op zijn beurt, die preekte in het bijzonder voor zijn parochianen in het rurale Ars, spreekt er over wat in wezen ons verstand te boven gaat en wat voor vele hoofden moeilijk ligt om de boodschap te kunnen navolgen. Terwijl de verhalende stijl op zich wel comfortabel in het oor ligt. Waar Thomas dus meegaat met diegenen die de natuurwetenschappen als voornaamste leidraad van hun leven beschouwen en met de rede, tot de geopenbaarde rede wil brengen, via de wegen van de filosofie en de Bijbel. De Pastoor van Ars overtuigt vooral diegenen die het gevoel van het moment en het plezier van de dag najagen, met de voorbeelden van de heiligen, hun gebreken en vooral hun omgang ermee op weg met het voorbeeld van Jezus. Thomas benadert die boodschap net vanuit een elegante en eenvoudige theorie.

Jean-Marie Vianney preekt dus vanuit zijn praktische eenvoud van alledag om het buitengewone nieuws van een voorsmaak op duurzaam geluk, vrede en voldoening te verkondigen. Dat is zijn sterkte. Dank u Pastoor van Ars.

[Gary Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of helpful advice about how to grow in the spiritual life.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.