By Br. John Marie Vianney M.I.C.M. (Tert.)

Theme: Catholic Saints & Heroes: Models for our Modern Age

Title: Saint John Marie Vianney

The speaker reflects on the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, emphasizing how they fail to recognize Jesus walking with them in their discouragement. He connects this to how people today often overlook Christ’s presence in ordinary life, especially in suffering and disappointment. The talk stresses that Jesus patiently listens to our confusion and then opens our eyes through Scripture and the breaking of the bread, symbolizing the Eucharist. The priest underlines the importance of returning again and again to the Mass as the place where our hearts can be rekindled. Ultimately, he encourages listeners to recognize that Christ truly walks with them, even when they feel lost, and to let that awareness change the direction of their lives.

(From 2002 SBC Conference)