The Cure of Ars: The Story of St. John Vianney - Patron Saint of Parish Priests

The Cure Of Ars by Mary Windeatt is an amazing story about a saint. The saint's name is John Marie Vianney. The story starts in Dardilly,France. He was born on May 8, 1786. on his way to saint-hood John went from full out encounters with the devil, to spending 18 hours a day hearing confessions of pilgrims. My favorite part is when the devil haunts him. The purpose is to inform in an excited and entertaining way. This book is great because it kept my attention though out the story. I suggest this book to 5th and 6th grade because it is an entertaining and factual book. John died when he was 64. St. John Vianney was a great man.

The Cure of Ars is one of the most exciting books about the saints done by the "story teller of the saints" Mary Fabyan Windeatt. This book tells how St. John Vianney had trouble becoming a priest, his lifelong work at the town of Ars, his fights with the devil, about the pilgrims flocking to the town, his attempts to become a hermit, and his holy death. I strongly recommend this book to any person who is studying for the priesthood or is thinking of it. I like this book for numerous reasons. The main reason I like this book is how the author writes it. She makes you feel that you are in the story with the saint. This is what she wrote at the beginning of the book... "My name is John, and I have been dead since August 4, 1859. How happy I am! For my soul is in Heaven. Yes, for eternity I am privileged to see God... For endless eternity I enjoy a happiness that is beyond the power of mere words to describe."

This book is great for readers of ages 10-100. There are 211 pages with each chapter's reading not more than 10-12 pages each. The story relates the life of the Saint John Vianney from childhood to deathbed. It conveys how human Vianney was as well as the virtues that made him a saint, most especially how humble he was and his perserverance against the attacks of the devil. If you want to inspire a young boy to the priesthood, if you are a Catholic homeschooling family, if you teach Catholic religious education, or someone just interested in learning what a parish priest life is like, then this is the book for you!