The Cross of Father DiAngelo
Memorial of Saint John Vianney
In honor of the Memorial of Saint John Vianney, who was known as the “Curé d’Ars”, today we present a video written, narrated and composed by Richard K. Carlton. Saint John Vianney lived a life of mortification and is the patron of priests, pastors and confessors. In his preparation for the priesthood, he had difficulty with his studies. He founded an orphanage for destitute girls, which closed in 1847, although it was his favorite work. But, his primary labor was that of directing souls — and, therefore, he 
makes a great subject of this meditation today, given that our site is specifically dedicated to spiritual direction.
His direction was characterized by common sense, remarkable insight, and supernatural knowledge. He would sometimes divine sins withheld in an imperfect confession. His instructions were simple in language, full of imagery drawn from daily life and country scenes, but breathing faith and that love of God which was his life principle… (New Advent Website)
This moving video gives us a look at the Cross, the dark night…as experienced by a priest, and even lay people as well. (In the recitation, the words “Dios mío, ¿donde estás?” mean “My God, where are you?”)
Video by Richard Keith Carlton, used with permission.
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Art: John Vianney, artist unknown, undated, PD-US author’s life plus 70 years or less, Wikimedia Commons.
About Liz Estler
Editor, SpiritualDirection.com. Liz holds a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts), Liturgy Certificate (Boston Archdiocese), and a BS degree in Biology and Spanish (Nebraska Wesleyan University – Lincoln). She has served as hospital chaplain associate, sacristan, translator and in other parish ministries. She was a regular columnist for a military newspaper in Europe and has been published in a professional journal. She once waded in the Trevi Fountain!
