[St. John Vianney was a simple parish priest who became famous as a Confessor, a priest who listens to a sinner who names his sins, talks with them, and celebrates God’s love and mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He is the Patron Saint of priests. The first prayer is one written by the Saint. The second prayer is one to the saint as we ask him to pray for our Pastor and parishioners. Because we are part of the Communion of Saints — faithful Christians, living and deceased — we ask saints in heaven to pray for us and our intention just as we asking someone living to pray.]
I love You, O my God,
and my only desire is to love You
until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O my infinitely lovable God,
and I would rather die loving You,
than live without loving You.
I love You, Lord
and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally…
My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You,
I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.
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Saint John Vianney,
we pray you to bless and help our pastor
so that he may love dearly in this life
and be richly rewarded in the next.
Obtain for him the grace always to be kind and generous,
self-sacrificing and zealous.
Watch over the people of our parish,
and keep them free from all evils.
Help them to be loyal and generous in the support of our pastor.
Help us particularly always
to give him the respect and honor due him as a priest.
Except for him we should not have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
or the other sacraments that we so dearly love and need.
From his anointed hands we receive the food of our souls,
the most precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From his lips we hear the word of God.
By the power given to him our sins are forgiven,
and we are given all blessings.
And it is he who will anoint us when we are dying,
and will offer the Holy Sacrifice for us when we are dead.
Help us, dear Saint, to see Christ in him,
and to cooperate with him in all his work for the good of our souls.
Amen.
[You can find and purchase the icon here.]
HEARTS ON FIRE 
Father,
I loved both of these prayers! I have read that this saint would hear Confessions for many hours a day and that people would travel from quite a distance to confess to him. He reminds me of St. Padre Pio a bit.
Mary,
The stories of about a steady stream of penitents for both saints is true. As part of a teaching on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I talk about Misconceptions People Have: one of which is that “All priests are good confessors.” That’s like believing all priests are good preachers! So, if a priest yells at you or belittles you, find another confessor. But, realize that sometimes a confessor will challenge us. That’s a good thing!