Sts. John Vianney, John Eudes and the Priestly Profile to the Visitation
National Catholic Register, 30 May 2025
The canonization centennial of two influential French priests illustrates new light from the marvelous feast of the Visitation.
When St. Jean-Marie Vianney and St. John Eudes were canonized 100 years ago on May 31, 1925, it was not then the feast of the Visitation. But the coincidence of the centennial with the Visitation now gives a priestly profile to the Visitation, one that is not otherwise evident on a Marian day.
For centuries, the Visitation was celebrated on July 2, the day after the octave of the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24). That was odd, as the biblical account makes it clear that Mary departed from Elizabeth’s home before John was born (Luke 1:56-57).
St. Paul VI put that right with his revision of the calendar in 1969, moving the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to May 31, closing the Marian month and now falling between the Annunciation (March 25) and John’s birth, as happened in Luke’s Gospel. Previously, May 31 had been the feast of the Queenship of Mary; that was consequently moved to a much more fitting date, Aug. 22, the octave of the Assumption (Aug. 15) — the Fourth and Fifth Glorious Mysteries now are set together liturgically.
Luke’s Gospel begins in the Temple, with Zechariah about his priestly duties when the St. Gabriel the Archangel tells him that he and Elizabeth will conceive a son (Luke 1:5-24). Luke also concludes in the Temple, with the apostles praising God there after the Ascension (24:50-53). Luke bookends the life of Jesus in priestly settings.
The Visitation takes place in a priestly house, the house of Zechariah. Jesus is first recognized by John, the son of a priest, who does what priests are supposed to do: namely, point out that the Lord God is present. Still in the womb, John lets his mother know that the Lord is at hand, and Elizabeth proclaims:
“And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:43-44).
Zechariah somehow failed in his priestly mission by doubting what the archangel told him. Consequently, he was struck mute. John the Baptist fulfills that mission, even though mute in the womb, by leaping for joy. The priestly failure in the Temple is corrected in the priestly home of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
John the Baptist begins his public ministry with a call to repentance (Matthew 3:2). Combined with the Visitation, we see that the Baptist is devoted to two priestly tasks that consumed the life of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests — preaching and repentance. The parish priest preaches so that the people may recognize that Jesus is present, and he urges repentance so that their sins may be forgiven in the confessional, where Father Vianney spent long hours.
The coincidence now of St. John Vianney’s canonization centennial with the Visitation is entirely fitting. The patron of parish of priests exemplified both a Marian role (bringing Jesus into the world) and a Baptist role (announcing his presence). The priest does both at every Mass. He delivers Jesus upon the altar as Mary delivered him in Bethlehem, and he points him out as the Baptist did: Behold the Lamb of God!
Pope Pius XI canonized St. John Eudes along with St. Jean-Marie Vianney on the same day. May 1925 was a busy month for the Holy Father — he also canonized doctors of the Church Thérèse of Lisieux and Peter Canisius, as well as three others!
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