ST. FRANCIS de SALES,
BISHOP and DOCTOR
Feast: January 24
His ardent love of God and souls, his great kindliness, rare wisdom and sure
teaching made St. Francis exceptionally influential in bringing about
conversions and in guiding souls in the spiritual life. He won back to the faith
more than 70,000 heretics, thus restoring to the Church a great part of the
Chablais, which had been ravaged by Protestantism. He was St. Jane de Chantal's
spiritual director, and with her founded the Order of the Visitation. He is the
author of Treatise on the Love of God and Introduction to the Devout Life. St. Francis died at Lyons
in 1622.
St. Francis de Sales
Francis was born on August 21, 1567, and ordained to the priesthood in 1593.
From 1594 to 1598 he labored at the difficult and dangerous task of preaching to
the Protestants of Chablais and effected the return of some 70,000 souls to the
Catholic faith. In 1602 he became bishop of Genf. His zeal for souls is attested
in 21,000 extant letters and 4,000 sermons which exemplify how he applied St.
Paul's words: "I have become all things to all men." You may epitomize his
character in two words, kindliness and lovableness — virtues that were the
secret of his success. His writings reflect his kindheartedness and sweet
disposition.
Most widely known is the
saint's Introduction to the Devout Life, which, with the Imitation of
Christ, is rightly considered the finest outline of Christian perfection.
Francis' Introduction proves to the world that true piety makes persons
amiable, lovable and happy. A renowned and holy friendship existed between him
and St. Frances de Chantal. In cooperation with her he founded the Visitation
Nuns in 1610. Out of love for his own poor diocese, he refused opportunities for
advancement, including the cardinalate. In recognition of the Introduction
and his other writings, Francis has been declared a doctor of the Church.
How Francis developed a gentle
and amiable disposition is a story in itself; he was not born a saint. By nature
his temperament was choleric, fiery; little was needed to throw him into a state
of violent anger. It took years before he mastered his impatience, his unruly
temper. Even after he became bishop, there were slips, as for instance, when
someone rang a bell before he had finished preaching. The important point, of
course, is that by constant perseverance he did in time attain perfect
self-mastery. Wherein lies a lesson.
Excerpted from The Church's
Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.
Patron:
Authors; Diocese of Baker, Oregon; Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio; Catholic
press; Diocese of Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; deafness; Diocese of
Wilmington, Delaware; educators; journalists; teachers; writers.
Symbols:
Bald man with a long beard wearing a bishop's robes holding a book; heart
pierced with thorns or picture of the Virgin.
Things to Do:
St. Francis was born near
Geneva, Switzerland, try a Swiss recipe in his honor.
Pray......Liturgy of the Hours
