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August 4, 2005Memorial of Saint John Vianney, priest Psalm: Thursday 34 Reading INm 20:1-13 The whole congregation of the children of Israelarrived in the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh.It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried. As the community had no water,they held a council against Moses and Aaron. The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD's presence!Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desertwhere we and our livestock are dying?Why did you lead us out of...

BRUCE MARSHALLThe Curé of ArsJEAN-MARIE VIANNEY WAS BORN on May 8, 1786 at Dardilly, in the province of the Rhone and about eight miles from Lyons. His parents were small farmers. They had six children, of whom Jean-Marie was the third.Three years later the French Revolution broke out. By the time that Jean-Marie was four years old the churches in France were served only by apostate priests who swore allegiance to the new state church. Priests who refused to accept the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were deported or put to death. Among the mere three bishops who conformed...