What Happens When You Slap St. John (Jean-Baptiste-Marie) Vianney?

You become the 1st Bishop of the newly formed diocese of Dubuque.

No this is not a joke. The event took place while he was a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Lyon, France. Because he had trouble learning his Latin, John Vianney was assigned a tutor, a younger seminarian by the name of Mathias Loras, to help him.  According to the story, 1 day Loras got so fustrated with Vianney's problems learning Latin that he slapped Vianney in the face. Vianney didn't hold it against Loras. In fact they became good friends & carried on a corespondance until Loras died in Dubuque in 1858.

In 1829 Loras left France to go to Mobile Alabama. In 1837, Pope Gregory XVI created the Diocese of DBQ out of a portion of the then Diocese of St Louis. (Note Iowa was still a territory & didn't become a state until 1846.)

After his ordination, John Vianney became the  assistant to Fr Balley in Ecully. In 1818 he was appointed parish priest of the parish of Ars where he spent the rest of his life serving the Lord by helping those in his flock, as well as others from far away to grow in their faith. His concern with saving souls was so great that he would spend up to 18 hours a day hearing confessions.

Because of the connection, St. John Vianney was named secondary patron of the Archdiocese of DBQ. (St. Raphael the Archangel is the primary patron.) & now you now the rest of the story.

The incorrupt body of Saint John Mary Vianney wearing a wax mask.

The body is entombed above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars, France.