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 Farm hand who
in his youth taught other children their prayers and catechism. Ordained in
1815, though it took several years study as he had little education, was not
a very good student, and his Latin was terrible. Assigned for a while to
Ecully. In 1818 he was assigned to the parish of Ars, a tiny village near
Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance; he began visiting his
parishioners, especially the sick and poor. Spent days in prayer, doing
penance for his parishioners. Gifted with discernment of spirits, prophecy,
hidden knowledge, and working miracles. Tormented by evil spirits,
especially when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night. Crowds
came to hear him preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his
reputation with penitents; by 1855 there were 20,000 pilgrims a year to Ars.
Spent 40 years as the parish priest.
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