St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) was born into the noble Sales family of the Duchy of Savoy, France. He was the first of six sons. He received a good education and was awarded a Doctorate in Law and Theology at the age of 24 from the University of Padua, Italy.
Against his families wishes, St Francis studied for the priesthood but only after a personal struggle with his own conscious and receiving, what he believed to be, signs from God. St Francis is credited with converting around 40,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism in Switzerland during his early years as a Priest. In 1602, St Francis was appointed Bishop of Geneva.
St Francis is remembered as a friend of the poor, his reputation as a ‘spellbinding preacher’ and of course, his many pertinent spiritual writings.
St Francis’ Feast Day is the 24th January. He is the Patron Saint of writers, journalists and the deaf, having developed a sign language to teach a deaf man about God.
St Francis:
Pray for us that we will become worthy to enter into the joys of eternal life.
Glory be to the…
