On Aug. 4, the Church will mark the feast of St. John Marie Baptiste Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests and the Diocese of Birmingham’s secondary patron. In preparation for the celebration of the saint’s feast, the faithful are invited to begin a nine-day novena on July 27, remembering the saint’s tireless devotion to the priesthood and praying for the dedicated priests who currently serve in the diocese, for the seminarians in formation for priesthood, and for more holy men to answer God’s call.

This time of prayer is an opportune time to highlight the path to priesthood. When answering the call, seminarians embark on a seven-year journey of faith and extensive formation, preparing them for a lifetime of service to God and His people. The journey, however, would not be possible without support, both spiritually and financially. Prayer is powerful as is the support of those with generous hearts. To invest financially in the future of the priesthood in the diocese, please consider making a donation to the Seminarian Education Fund, either online or through contributing to the second collection taken in parishes the weekend of Aug. 2-3.

St. John Vianney, pray for us!

Want to help our future priests?

• Give generously to the St. John Vianney Seminarian Education Fund second collection in your parish the weekend of Aug. 2-3.
• Make a one-time or recurring donation to the Seminarian Education Fund by visiting bhmdiocese.org/vocations.
• Contact the Diocese of Birmingham’s Finance Office at 205.838.8322 to speak about estate planning or stock donations to the Seminarian Education Fund.

Starting July 27, the faithful of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama are invited to pray the nine-day Novena to St. John Marie Baptiste Vianney in preparation for the feast of our secondary patron.

Day 1 | July 27

“We have not deserved to pray — but God, in His goodness, has permitted us to speak with Him.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 2 | July 28

“When we pray with attention, with humility of mind and of heart, we quit the earth, we rise to Heaven, we penetrate the Bosom of God, we go and converse with the angels and the saints.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 3 | July 29

“How good is the Good God! The angels sin and are cast into hell. Man sins, and God promises him a Deliverer. What have we done to deserve this favor?” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 4 | July 30

“It is a beautiful thought, my children, that we have a sacrament that heals the wounds of our souls!” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 5 | July 31

“When we have just received Communion, if we were asked what are we taking away to our homes, we might answer, ‘I am taking away Heaven!’” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 6 | Aug. 1

“In Heaven, faith and hope will exist no more for the mist which obscures our reason will be dispelled … But love; oh we shall be inebriated with it! We shall be drowned, lost in that ocean of divine love, annihilated in that immense charity of the Heart of Jesus! So that charity is a foretaste of Heaven.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 7 | Aug. 2

“See, my children, if we really wish to be saved, we must determine, once and for all, to labor in earnest for our salvation; our soul is like a garden in which the weeds are ever ready to choke the good plants and flowers that have been sown in it.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 8 | Aug. 3

“Three things are wanted to preserve purity — the presence of God, prayer, and the sacraments.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Day 9 | Aug. 4

“To love the good God with our whole heart is to prefer Him to everything … to love nothing that is incompatible with the love of God. To love the good God with our whole mind is to think of Him often, and to make it our principal study to know Him well ... To love the good God with all our strength is to employ our possessions, our health, and our talents, in serving Him and glorifying Him. It is to refer all our actions to Him, as our last end.” — St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars