Sanctuaries in France
ARS-SUR-FORMANS
Ain / Rhône-Alpes
Meeting with the Holy Curé
THE SANCTUARY
Born in 1786 in Dardilly near Lyon, a family of peasants, Jean-Marie Vianney has the desire to become a priest to “get souls to God”. He encounters much difficulty following his training in this troubled period after the French Revolution. He was finally ordained as a priest at the age of 29 in 1815 and arrived in Ars on February 13, 1818.
For 41 years, Jean-Marie Vianney will awaken the faith of his parishioners, through his sermons that bear witness to the goodness and mercy of God, and especially through his prayer and his way of life.
Beatified on January 8, 1905, he will be canonized in 1925 by Pius XI, and proclaimed “Patron of all the priests of the universe” in 1929. Pope John Paul II, who came to Ars in 1986, will emphasize: “the priest of Ars remains for many countries an outstanding model, both of the fulfillment of the ministry and the sanctity of the minister.
Dombes, Val de Saône, Monts du Beaujolais.
A stroll ride in the east of the Saone, you can discover the Dombes Aux Mille Étangs. Tours, hiking trails and V.T.T. will also allow you to travel around the region and take full advantage of the landscape and Dombists heritage, but also taste the local products.
Discover the village of Saint Curé d’Ars in the heart of the Dombes. The 19th century basilica houses the relics of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, Saint patron of the parish priests.
Morning Program
• Welcome by the Sanctuary, DVD on the life of the Curé d’Ars and his message.
• Visit of the Sanctuary, House of the Saint and Basilica: the places where he lived and prayed.
• Exchange: The Cure of Ars and mercy (or another theme to be agreed). • Mass of the Pilgrimage.
• Gastronomic lunch.
Afternoon Program
• The Museum of Waxes, History of the Saint Curé of Ars: 35 wax characters, life size sculpted by GREVIN.
• Visit of the castle of Fléchères of the seventeenth century, which contains a collection of frescoes by the Italian painter Pietro Ricchi, Louis XV woodwork salons, a French garden and an English park.
Or: Guided tour of the remains of the Château d’Ambérieux-en-Dombes, from the end of the 14th century, including the 19m high donjon offering a magnificent panorama of the Dombes and Beaujolais.
