27/05/2026
St. John Vianney, the holy Curé of Ars, is one of the greatest priest-saints in history. In 19th-century France, he would spend up to 18 hours a day sitting in the confessional, patiently hearing the sins of thousands who traveled from across Europe to confess to him.
This extraordinary zeal for souls infuriated the devil.
For decades, the Evil One physically attacked the saint in terrifying ways. He would violently shake Vianney’s bed at night, fill his room with blood-curdling screams and noises, and once even set his bed on fire. These demonic harassments were relentless and exhausting.
But St. John Vianney was never intimidated. Instead of fear, he responded with courage and humor.
He noticed a clear pattern: the demonic attacks always became loudest and fiercest the night before a major, hardened sinner came to confession. The worse the devil raged, the bigger the spiritual victory ahead.
With a smile, Vianney affectionately nicknamed the devil “the grapevine” — because the attacks were a reliable signal that a great sinner was about to repent and return to God the next day.
Far from being discouraged, Vianney would say something like: “The grapevine is very active tonight… we will have a big catch tomorrow!”
His life reminds us that the devil fears holy priests and fervent souls more than anything. The Curé of Ars converted thousands not by power, but by patience, prayer, and perseverance in the confessional.
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On days when you feel spiritually attacked or discouraged, remember St. John Vianney. The louder the opposition, the closer the victory may be.
St. John Vianney, patron of priests and confessors, pray for us! Give our priests strength, and help us all approach the Sacrament of Confession with humility and trust.
