St. John Marie Vianney was born on 8^th May 1786 in a poor farmer’s family in France. He was known for his hard work, humility, deep religiosity, thought fullness and fearlessness. He chose to become a priest when priests were being killed and churches were being destroyed during the French Revolution. He was ordained priest on 13^th August 1815. He was sent to the obscure church at Ars. Ars was a God-forsaken village inhabited by men and women who were leading bad lives. But, instead of cursing the ‘darkness’ he lit a ‘candle’. Soon, he began to bloom where he was planted. He was a man of exemplary simplicity and high thinking. Vianney tirelessly worked hard day in and out for all round upliftment of men and women assigned to his priestly care. Before long, great transformation of the human hearts, of the families and of the neighbourhoods was both seen and felt by everybody. Vianney’s heroic virtues of love, service, humility, sacrifice, piety etc. made him a model for all lovers of humanity. This little known Vianney became a spiritual guide for thousands of people. The obscure village of Ars became a centre of pilgrimage visited by lakhs of people. Even Bishops, political leaders and those who held high offices came to Ars to listen to Vianney. Vianney inspired people to transform themselves. He left for his heavenly home on 4^th August 1859 and was declared a Saint by the Pope on 31^st May 1925. May the ideals lived and practiced by John Marie Vianney inspire us to transform ourselves and our society.