Wisdom from the Saints: The Sermons of the Curé of Ars (10th Sunday after Pentecost)

Among the many great saints we find in the Catholic liturgical calendar this month is St. John Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars.[1] To honor this great saint and preacher, we will begin posting short excerpts from his sermons according to the Sunday or liturgical feast we are celebrating. Since the "lectionary" used by the Curé of Ars follows that of what we now call the "extraordinary form" (i.e., the traditional Roman liturgy), the sermons posted will correspond to the traditional liturgical calendar.

Tomorrow (August 2nd) is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. Therefore, below is an excerpt from one of St. John Vianney's sermons given on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, referencing that day's gospel reading (Lk 18:9-14).

"I am not like the others!" [Lk 18:11] That, my dear brethren, is the usual tone of false virtue and the attitude of those proud people who, always quite satisfied with themselves, are at all times ready to censure and to criticize the conduct of others. [...] From this I conclude that pride is the source of all the vices and the cause of all the evils which have occurred, and which are still to come, in the course of the centuries. [...]

People take pride in their animals and in their households. They take pride in knowing how to go to Confession properly, in saying their prayers, in behaving modestly and decorously in the church. [...]

And I will add this to what I have just said. This sin is even more to be feared in people who put on a good show of piety and religion.

Excerpts from this sermon was taken from Una Morrissy, trans. The Sermons of the Curé of Ars (Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, 1995), 25-29.

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[1] St. John Vianney's feast day is August 4th, which is also the day of his death (or, as a saint, his passing to eternal life). It was previously August 8th, as the 4th was occupied by St. Dominic's feast day. However, with the reform of the liturgical calendar, the two feast days were switched (see http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/08/liturgical-notes-on-feast-of-saint.html#.VbWAX_lViko).