Ars”. Many excellent books as well as articles have been written on this saintly priest, especially by Abbe Trochou, Tan publishers. St. John XXXIII actually wrote an encyclicalletter on this great saint.
Before speaking much to the people the Cure of Ars poured his pure and suffering heart out to God with these words: “God I beg you to convert my parish. I will accept any sufferings you send me, but convert my parish.” He spent long hours in prayer; sometimes
he would spend the whole night in prayer. He added, to this, severe fasting. Sometimes he would go a day or more without eating. On other occasions he would boil a pot of potatoes at the start of the week and eat two or three a day—all done for the love of God and for the salvation of immortal souls.
happiness in this world; life would be insupportable. When we receive Holy
Communion, we receive our joy and our happiness. The good God, wishing to give
Himself to us in the Sacrament of His love, gave us a great and vast desire,
which He alone can satisfy. In the presence of this beautiful Sacrament, we are
like a person dying of thirst by the side of a river—he would only need to bend
his head; like a person still remaining poor, close to a great treasure—he need
only stretch out his hand. He who communicates loses himself in God like a drop
of water in the ocean. They can never be separated.”