(reflection adapted from My Catholic Life)
Friday, January 24, was St. Francis de Sales' feast day. He is known as the patron saint of authors, journalists, writers, deaf people, and educators so he is the perfect saint to be a patron of this blog! He is also one of the doctors of the Church.
St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567, into a noble family in the Duchy of Savoy, modern day France. Because of his family's nobility, he recieved an excellent education, earning doctorates in civil law and theology. St. Francis de Sales' father planned for him to marry a noble woman, and to enter politics, but Francis's life headed in a different direction.
St. Francis de Sales was born fifty years after the ignition of the Protestant Reformation, and twenty-five years after John Calvin's anti-Catholic rhetoric spread to Geneva, Switzerland. At the young age of nineteen, Francis attended a lecture on Calvanist theories such as predestination, and he suddenly became worried that he was destined for hell. Struggling with this notion proved difficult for him, and as a result of experiencing erroneous theology, St. Francis de Sales experienced intercessory prayer through the Blessed Mother and the Memorare prayer.
As a result, Francis dedicated his life to celibacy and cultivated his calling to the priesthood. His father was reluctant at first, but then agreed to his son's ordination and helped him gain a key position in the Diocese of Geneva. As a young priest, he had the influence of the Reformation to contend with, but he always approached his sermons with tact and gentlemanliness, taking into account differing views and preaching true theology from the heart and with the guide of the Holy Spirit.
In 1602, at the age of 35, Francis was ordained the Bishop of Geneva. Geneva was under control of Calvanist ideologies, and his fervant faith moved ahead at full throttle. He desired to win back the hearts and minds of the citizens of Geneva. At first he was ineffective, but little by little, one soul at a time, he converted the hearts of many people of Geneva. His motto was, "He who preaches with love, preaches effectively."
St. Francis de Sales believed that everyone, in every state in life, within every occupation, was called to a life of sanctity. This is illustrated through his most famous publication, Introduction to the Devout Life. This book was a complitation of letters he sent those under his spiritual direction throughout the years. This book, along with other writings, won many to the faith. In 1610, he assisted one of his spiritual directees, the future Saint Jane de Chantal, to establish the women’s Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. His inspiring letters to her became a source of spiritual formation for the women of her newly founded order.
After nine years as a priest and twenty years as a bishop, Bishop de Sales suffered a stroke and died soon after. It is believed that one of the last things he wrote were the words “Humility, humility, humility."
Quote by St. Francis de Sales
"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instead set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew."
Prayer to St. Francis de Sales
Be at peace. Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather, look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!
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