Saint Francis de Sales - January 24

Saint Francis de Sales
Also known as
Francis of Sales
Gentle Christ of Geneva
the Gentleman Saint
Franz von Sales
Memorial
24 January
formerly 29 January
28 December on some calendars including in Lyon, France
Profile
Born in the castle of Château de Thorens to a well-placed Savoyard family, the eldest of twelve children born to François de Boisy and Françoise de Sionnz. His parents intended that Francis become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the family line and power. He studied at La Roche and Annecy in France, taught by Jesuits. Attended the Collège de Clermont in Paris, France at age 12. In his early teens, Francis began to believe in pre-destination, and was so afraid that he was pre-emptorily condemned to Hell that he became ill and eventually was confined to bed. However, in January 1587 at the Church of Saint Stephen, he overcame the crisis, decided that whatever God had in store for him was for the best, and dedicated his life to God.
Studied law and theology at the University of Padua, Italy, and earned a doctorate in both fields. He returned home, and found a position as Senate advocate. It was at this point that he received a message telling him to “Leave all and follow Me.” He took this as a call to the priesthood, a move his family fiercely opposed, especially when he refused a marriage that had been arranged for him. However, he pursued a devoted prayer life, and his gentle ways won over the family.
Priest. In 1593 he was appointed provost of the diocese of Geneva, Switzerland, a stronghold of Calvinists. Preacher, writer and spiritual director in the district of Chablais. His simple, clear explanations of Catholic doctrine, and his gentle way with everyone, brought many back to the Roman Church. He even used sign language in order to bring the message to the deaf, leading to his patronage of deaf people.
Bishop of Geneva in 1602. He travelled and evangelized throughout the Duchy of Savoy, working with children whenever he could. Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul. He turned down a wealthy French bishopric to continue working where God had placed him. With Saint Jeanne de Chantal he helped found the Order of the Visitation . A prolific correspondent, many of his letters have survived.
The value of his writings led to his being declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Blessed Pius IX in 1877, and a patron of writers and journalists by Pope Pius XI in 1923. The Salesians of Don Bosco, the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, and the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales are named in his honour as is the Saint François Atoll in the Seychelles Islands.
Born
21 August 1567 at Château de Thorens, Savoy (part of modern France)
Died
28 December 1622 at Lyon, France of natural causes
buried at the basilica of the Visitation, Annecy, France
his heart was preserved as a relic at Lyon
during the French Revolution his heart was was moved to Venice, Italy
Beatified
8 January 1662 by Pope Alexander VII
Canonized
19 April 1665 by Pope Alexander VII
Patronage
against deafness
authors
Catholic press
confessors
deaf people
educators
journalists (proclaimed on 26 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI)
teachers
writers (proclaimed on 26 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI)
—
Annecy, France, diocese of
Baker, Oregon, diocese of
Cincinnati, Ohio, archdiocese of
Columbus, Ohio, diocese of
Houma-Theibodaux, Louisiana, diocese of
Keimoes-Upington, South Africa, diocese of
Oakland, California, diocese of
Wilmington, Delaware, diocese of

Champdepraz, Aosta, Italy
catholicsaints.info/saint-francis-de-sales/