When Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year for Priests” he dedicated it to St John Vianney, the much-loved Curé of Ars.

St John Vianney grew up in a France devastated by the tragic events of the Revolution, and went on to become perhaps the most remarkable parish priest the Church has ever known.

This book tells the story of his life - and how what was once a bleak rural parish became a centre of international pilgrimage.

“In his time the Curé of Ars was able to transform the hearts and the lives of so many people because he enabled them to experience the Lord’s merciful love. Our own time urgently needs a similar proclamation and witness to the truth of Love - Deus caritas est". Pope Benedict XVI

"Joanna Bogle’s new book on the Curé is a timely and welcome contribution towards our rediscovery of the Curé as we respond to Pope Benedict’s prophetic call for a “Year of the Priesthood”. Its greatest value, however, will be to point readers to what the Curé himself said, which, as Joanna Bogle shows, he first lived in an exemplary way in his parish." From the Preface by Mgr. Keith Barltrop