The Power of Prayer and Sacrifice - Saint John Vianney

 

Saint John Mary Vianney, the cure of Ars, had a true heart of a shepherd and lived in constant prayer and sacrifice, to the point of heroism. In doing so, he snatched many souls from Satan’s hands and brought them back to the path of salvation. But in his fury against the saint, the enemy let slip these words: “If there were only three like you in France, I would not be able to set foot there!” That makes things perfectly clear… 

What reduces the enemy to impotence are neither the weapons of the world, nor endless political discussions, nor petitions born of anger, nor violence, nor the plans for control devised by the powerful leaders of our nations, nor even indifference… what saves us from the dangers of death that threaten us today more than ever before, is the man who prays, fasts and above all does everything for the love of Love. For Love bears the name of the living God, Love is God.

In other words, let us be clear: what will save us is the holiness  of all who have understood what an extraordinary destiny awaits us, already here on earth with divine peace in our hearts, and then with God in eternity. The ‘elite’ and the ‘ powerful’ are like everyone else, they will die one day, perhaps even tomorrow, and their plans will die with them; so why be afraid of them? If two or more saints like the Cure of Ars wound have been enough to kick Satan out of my country, then here is the true power, the immense power of holiness!” - Sister Emmanuelle Maillard