Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": John Vianney

August 4, 2025: St. John Vianney, Priest

See 17 connections with today?
Legend at bottom

Listen

For gospel

Sweet Honey in the Rock vocal ensemble (1st reading-inspired)
In the land there is a hunger/ Lynch: sheet music (1st reading, gospel)
Read

Nm 11:4b-15 Israelites: “Would that we had meat! We miss the food we ate in Egypt. We're famished now and see nothing but this manna.” When Moses heard the people's cry, angering the Lord, he was grieved. Moses to Lord: “Why do you treat me so badly? Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with these people? Where can I get meat for them? They're too heavy for me to carry. If you're going to deal with me like this, just kill me now....”

Ps 81:12-17 "Sing with joy to God our help." “My people didn't obey me, so I gave them up to their stubbornness and let them go their own way. If they'd hear me and walk in my ways, I'd humble their enemies and fill them with honey from the rock....”

Mt 14:13-21 When Jesus saw the crowd, his heart was moved, and he cured their sick. Disciples / Jesus: "Let the crowds go buy food." / “You give them food.” / “We only have five loaves and two fish.” / “Bring them.” He took, blessed, and broke them and gave them to the disciples to give out. All 5,000 men, plus women and children, ate and were satisfied, and baskets were left over.

"Miracle of the loaves and fishes" art gallery


Multiplication of the loaves.../ Francken

Miracle of the loaves and fishes/ Tissot

Reflect

Creighton: We know the gospel story ends with more food in the baskets than at the start. Imagine that after Jesus' message, some in the crowd were moved to share what they brought. Could that be part of the miracle? Are we willing to share what we have with the needy? To help at the food pantry? To give when the basket is passed? May we consider others' needs more....

One Bread, One Body: "Making believers out of us": Just before Jesus' death, he took bread and wine and said, “This is My body” and "This is My blood." The Lord fed the Israelites for forty years, giving them bread from heaven. Jesus shows his lordship, healing the sick, multiplying loaves and fish, walking on water, and rising from the dead. May we believe in miracles, in Jesus' presence in the Eucharist, in him as risen Lord and God.

Passionist: "Serving God's People": “Jesus withdrew to a deserted place.” John the Baptist gave his life for Jesus; his death must have grieved Jesus deeply. Moses responds to the Israelites' grumbling about the miraculous food God provided. Moses, challenged by the situation, cried to God for relief. St. John Vianney had a humble background and a zeal for spreading God’s forgiveness and love. He's known for his ministry of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, daily sharing God’s love with penitents. His ministry flowed from a spiritual life based on prayer and mortification. He witnessed God's love that Moses and John the Baptist witnessed. Pope Benedict named him patron of all parish priests. How zealous am I for my faith? Do I offer forgiveness and encouragement? Do I listen? Do I give of myself in service? We have great examples of zealous, charitable love of God and others. Let’s pray for priests and all parish ministers. -May God bless us all in our vocation as disciples of Jesus Crucified; may we be blessed with great and generous love!

DailyScripture.net: "Jesus blessed the loaves and fishes": Many were drawn to Jesus because they were hungry for God. Jesus' message and miracles stirred hope that God was acting to set people free and bless them. Jesus never disappointed those who sought him. When he and his disciples discovered the crowd gathered, he welcomed them, spoke God's word, and healed many. Later, he commanded his disciples to feed them, likely to test their faith and give them a sign of God's intervention and favor. He blessed the little they had, distributed it to all, and satisfied them; and the leftovers show God's generosity. The feeding recalled the manna in the wilderness and foreshadowed the heavenly bread Jesus would pass on at the Last Supper. Jesus claimed, as only God can, that he's the true bread of heaven that satisfies our deepest hunger. The miracle prefigures the Eucharist that sustains us on our journey. God multiplies what we have so we may bring others his blessing. The miracle shows God's generosity and kindness. God gives more than we need so we'll have something to share with those who lack what they need.

Universalis: St Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, son of a peasant farmer, slow and unpromising candidate for the priesthood, was eventually ordained on account of his devoutness. He was sent to Ars, an isolated village, and remained there; his parishioners wouldn't let him leave. He was a noted preacher, and a celebrated confessor: such was his fame, and his reputation for insight into his penitents’ souls and their futures, that he had to spend up to eighteen hours a day in the confessional, so great was the demand. Tens of thousands came to visit this obscure parish priest.

Dress legend

'Fish' pin: "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt" (1st reading)"; 5 loaves, 2 fish (gospel)

'Honey' tie, 'rock' tie pin: "... and fill them with honey from the rock" (psalm)

'Musical notes with "joy"' pin, 'keyboard' suspenders: "Sing with joy to God our help" (psalm)

'Hand' tie pin: "If my people would hear and follow me, I'd turn my hand against their foes" (psalm); Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter (gospel)

'Heart' pin: "I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts" (psalm); Jesus' heart was... (gospel)

'Abacus' tie pin: 'Multiplication' of the loaves and fishes (you too can multiply) (gospel)

'Walker' tie pin: They walked according to their own counsels; if only Israel would walk in my ways (psalm); Jesus came towards them, walking on the sea; Peter started to walk on water (gospel)

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"