A Small Glimpse into the Life & Heart of St. Jean Vianey–the Cure of Ars

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy.  Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection.  But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site. We invite you to visit Papal History/Saints & Blesseds to view the many canonized and beatified men and women who make up this section of the Collection.

Among the most treasured items are those belonging to St. Jean Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. 

Below you will find images of those items, which include his actual breviary and a vial of his blood. 

And today we take a look at two legal documents he had prepared, offering spiritual consolation in perpetuity for the people mentioned in them.

They are uniquely interesting in that they give a small glimpse into what was spiritually important to him. —Father Richard Kunst

 1841 Documentation for the Celebration of 24 Low Masses

1842 Documentation for the Celebration of 24 Low Masses

You are viewing  legal arrangements  to celebrate annually  low masses for the intentions of the donor, Jean Vianney.  In these legal arrangements–which were a common occurrence at that time in history–Pere Vianney makes clear two spiritual issues important enough to him to be prayed for in perpetuity.

These are  legacies (gifts) from Jean-Marie Vianney for masses to be said in perpetuity, which would be paid for from the interest accrued from his original gift.

This was a very common occurrence that often in wills, people set aside money for the saying of masses, usually for the soul of the departed, but in this case, for other reasons.

It is like a will. So, this is a legal document, because it was signed by a notary (here Gayot), most likely a copy asked for after the death of the original notary, Raffin.

The people mentioned would have signed the original document in the presence of Raffin. 

When a notary wrote an official document, he also made a copy for himself to be kept in his minutes (records) which are legal documents also.

The first donation has made it the responsibility of the church council of the church of Ars to have thirty low masses celebrated annually in perpetuity in the above-mentioned church in honor of the Holy Heart of Mary to implore her protection for the success of foreign missionaries.

In the second legal document, the legacy is  to thank God for having preserved the Holy Virgin from original sin and to ask for his protection for the children who are not yet born so that they will receive the grace of baptism.

These two documents, which are rather obscure biographical incidents, truly give us a small glimpse into the life and heart of a saint so beloved for his humility and holiness he is the patron saint of parish priests. 

Saint Jean Vianney, pray for us!

You can find the complete story of these documents on Papal History/Saints & Blesseds/Jean Vianney.  Here is a link: 

St. Jean Vianney