John Vianney was born in France during the French Revolution when religion was forbidden. He desperately wanted to become a priest so that he could help people love God. Finally, he was ordained a priest, receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders.

He was sent to the village of Ars, where a lot of people lost their faith. Father Vianney helped them find it, teaching them how to live and love like Jesus. “Come to mass, and come meet Jesus,” he urged. He is the patron saint of parish priests. His feast day is August 4.

Saints are real-life heroes of faith who inspire us by their virtues to become more like Christ. In the Saints and Me! series, these beautifully illustrated early-reader books tell the real stories of saints that come to life and connect with today’s children aged 4 to 9.