How much it please our Lord, that we, along with Him, so greatly desires the conversion of sinners. That we have pity upon their souls because we know what waits for them in the afterlife if they do not convert! We can pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet daily or many times during the day. We can offer EVERYTHING, and with gladness deprive ourselves of some legitimate pleasure for some soul who is in need. We can make the Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood for sinners and pray continuously around the clock while we are awake just by saying, “Jesus, Mary, I love You, save souls.” The closer we are to God, the more we will care about the salvation of souls and the more ardent we are in our efforts. This desire pleases our Lord greatly, and we participate in carrying our crosses after him by denying ourselves willingly. Make sacrifices of everything you can. Don’t eat seconds, don’t drink anything with sugar in it, fast from television that is mindless, instead watch something that educates you in the Faith. Listen to Catholic CD’s. Once you make your Morning Offering prayer, everything becomes an offering, a prayerful action. Even changing diapers for the conversion of women who are pregnant and considering abortion!There are so many things that can be done for the conversion of sinners. Thank you for this article, Father. I think I have some of the spirit of St. John Vianney, I feel this need to pray for sinners all the time, knowing how much confession will do them good! I live in an area of town in which many people do not even know about God and they live that way. I feel I have been placed here precisely for that reason, to pray and offer supplications for them. Let’s everyone do our part to help convert sinners. It is a work of mercy, and Jesus said,”Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Let’s be “soul harvesters” for Him, and I am sure that He will provide for us in our spiritual necessity when we need it!
How truly appropriate.
We can follow the example of St. John Vianney by praying for those around us. I recall an article written by Peggy Noonan in that period immediately following 9-11. She was commuting home on the subway and exploring the faces of the strangers who were her subway car companions. She took out her rosary and began praying for them. There are so many people in need of prayer, especially those who do not know how to pray. Use your time at work and home to pray for these souls. While driving to work in the morning, I pray for the souls in purgatory who have no one left on earth to pray for them; for those undergoing surgery, along with their families, the surgeons and aides; for those in emergency rooms, confused and frightened; for those serving our country overseas; for those in dangerous situations; for the victims of abortion - the mothers and their families; ...
there is an unlimited number of people who need our prayers. I also use time walking from one office to another at work to pray for various souls. You can do it too. St. Therese of Lisieux decided to not waste one moment of her time on earth but to use it to pray for souls and worship God.
What a beautiful post (and comment!) to start out this month of Mary.
Our priest recently had a statue of St. John Vianney installed at the front of the church. He incorporated St. John into his homily last Sunday. The associate pastor put together a really nice booklet on the life of St. John Vianney including some good quotes and prayers. Is it any wonder vocations at our parish are booming? :)