Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, (1786 - 1859), commonly known in English as St. John Vianney, was a French parish priest, venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. He is often referred to as the "Curé d'Ars" since he was the parish priest of Ars. He became internationally known for his priestly and pastoral work in Ars, France, due to the radical spiritual transformation of the community. Catholics attribute this to his holy life, mortification, perseverance in hearing confessions, and ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The chief labour of the Curé d'Ars was the direction of souls. He had not been long at Ars when people began coming to him from other parishes, then from distant places, then from all parts of France, and finally from other countries. As early as 1835, his bishop forbade him to attend the annual retreats of the diocesan clergy because of "the souls awaiting him yonder". During the last ten years of his life, he spent from sixteen to eighteen hours a day in the confessional. His advice was sought by bishops, priests, religious, young men and women in doubt as to their vocation, sinners, persons
in all sorts of difficulties and the sick. In 1855, the number of pilgrims had reached twenty thousand a year. These Catechetical Instructions give his summation of the Christ faith and allow readers even today to benefit from his advise and teaching.