Orar con el Cura de Ars (Praying with the Cure of Ars)

Un sencillo sacerdote de un pequeñísimo pueblo que, sin pretenderlo y sin salir de allí en toda su vida, alcanzó una notable fama en toda Francia.

No escribió nada: con dificultad, y con bastantes años, aprendió a leer y a escribir. Llegaron a echarle del seminario por suspender los estudios. Sin embargo, al cabo de los años, personas importantes de toda Francia irían a Ars para escuchar su consejo; y el Emperador de Francia le daría el prestigioso título de Caballero de la Legión de Honor.

Toda su fama le vino de su actividad. Lo llamativo es que en su caso toda su actividad la ejerció encerrado en una caja de madera de un metro cuadrado de superficie: su confesionario. El pueblo tuvo que armarse con fondas y pensiones para albergar a tantos penitentes como esperan su turno.

A humble priest from a tiny village who, without ever intending to—and without ever leaving the place in his entire life—attained great fame throughout France.

He wrote nothing; he learned to read and write only with difficulty and at an advanced age. He was even dismissed from the seminary for failing his studies. Yet, years later, prominent figures from all over France would travel to Ars to seek his counsel, and the Emperor of France would bestow upon him the prestigious title of Knight of the Legion of Honour.

His fame stemmed entirely from his work. What is remarkable is that he carried out all this activity while confined within a wooden box measuring just one square meter: his confessional. The village had to equip itself with inns and guesthouses to accommodate the throngs of penitents waiting for their turn.