Leonardo Defilippis will perform his one man show Vianney at 7:30 PM Saturday, Dec. 10th, at the Carmelite Monastery Chapel, 9150 Clayton Road in Ladue, and at 7 PM Monday, December 12th, at St. Angela Merici Church, 3860 N. Hwy. 67 in Florissant. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.St. John Vianney came of age in the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution, when it was literally illegal to practice the faith in France; when priests literally risked their lives to bring the sacraments to The People of God. Their heroism impressed him. Vianney had been a very poor student, but the French bishops needed anyone willing to become a priest, so he was ordained and sent to a poor rural parish (Ars) noted for the virtual disappearance of Catholic practice. Eventually he had restored the little parish to vibrancy and St. John became a sought-after confessor with as many as 20,000 people coming to him in a single year. Although his biographers report a number of miraculous cures especially of children during his lifetime, the French word "Curé" doesn't mean "healer" it means "parish priest". Today, St. John Vianney is the patron saint of Parish Priests. You can read the whole story here. Reading a story is great, but seeing it dramatized brings it to life in a powerful way; look at how movies have such an impact on our culture. The show should be especially good for young adults, so plan to take a bunch with you.
Finally, if we're going to restore a Christian Culture then Christian producers and performers have to be able to make a living. So you know, tickets to a show like this would normally go for $20 or $25, but Mr. Defilippis is trusting Providence here, so do your best for him.
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