relics Archives - Faith Full Catholic Podcast with Tony Ganzer

July 17, 2025July 17, 2025

Seeking St. Jean Vianney, a holy priest

The Catholic Church needs good priests, now and always. Facing past scandals, and new struggles, some seek intercession and wisdom from the patron saint of parish priests, St. Jean Vianney. The French priest is said to have faced regular attacks by satan, yet his ministry thrived, during a time of great difficulty for the Catholic church in France.

St. Jean Vianney is a holy priest, and we need holy priests. If a fish stinks in the head, the rest of the fish is probably not edible either…probably not good!
– Fr. Stephen Dominic Hayes

In today’s episode we visit St. Jean Vianney’s village of Ars, France, and remember a time when his incorrupt heart toured the United States during another time of trial in the Church. There are reasons to be hopeful about the faith, but as Pope Leo said, priests need to “Always count on God’s grace and [his] closeness too and together we can truly be this voice in the world.”

January 21, 2019July 17, 2025

Penance, Prayers, and an Incorrupt Heart

A golden reliquary with the darkened incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney

In times of struggle for the institution of the Catholic Church, some look for inspiration and intercession from the Saints. St. Jean Vianney is said to have faced regular attacks by Satan, yet his ministry in the face of those has positioned him as the Patron Saint of Parish Priests, having walked the Earth during a time of great difficulty for the Catholic church in France. The incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney is touring the U.S. during another time of trial in the Church. More on that, and the young man traveling with the relic in this episode of Faith Full.

September 5, 2018July 1, 2025

Of Relics, Saints, and Solace

If a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to hang on to something to remind you of them—maybe a ring, maybe a favorite book or picture. That’s the same idea, in a very basic way, behind the relics of the saints held in high esteem by many faith traditions. And in Pittsburgh, oddly enough, there is said to be the largest Catholic collection of relics outside of Rome. Join us for a visit to Saint Anthony Chapel in this episode of Faith Full.

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