As he lay on his deathbed, St. John Vianney received the Eucharist for the last time.
After he received holy Communion, he said: “How kind the good God is! When we are no longer able to go to him, he himself comes to us!” Then he began to cry and when he was asked why he was crying, since he would soon be in heaven, he answered, “Yes, but it is sad to receive holy Communion for the last time.”
Vianney had a great devotion to St. Philomena. He regarded her as his guardian and erected a chapel and shrine in honor of the saint. During May 1843, Vianney fell so ill he thought that his life was coming to its end. He asked St Philomena to cure him and promised to celebrate 100 Masses at her shrine. Twelve days later, Vianney was cured and he attributed his cure to St Philomena.
