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Francis de Sales
| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Saint Francis de Sales |
| Saints: Francis of Sales |
Francis of Sales (1567–1622), bishop of Geneva. Born in Savoy at the Château de Sales, he was delicate as a boy. He was educated privately at first and then at the University of Paris where he studied rhetoric, philosophy, and theology. In 1591 he became a Doctor of Law at Padua; although opportunities were available both for a brilliant marriage and a worldly career through becoming a senator of Savoy, he refused both, because he wished to become a priest more than anything else. Through the influence of a cousin he was offered the provostship of Geneva, to which he was eventually nominated by the pope: this, it was hoped, would reconcile his father to the prospect of his son devoting his life to the service of the Church. On obtaining his father's consent, Francis was ordained priest in 1593; soon he was distinguished for service to the poor and skill as a preacher. The next year he undertook the daunting task of converting the Chablais country from Calvinism. In spite of danger to his life from both assassins and wolves, he survived; he eventually succeeded simply by preaching Catholic doctrine with great love and understanding, with persistent patience and gentleness. These were to be his main characteristics for the rest of his life.
After undergoing a severe examination in theology at Rome in the presence of the pope, cardinal Baronius, Bellarmine, and others, he was nominated coadjutor-bishop in 1599, and became bishop of Geneva in 1602. He excelled in administrative work, in preaching, spiritual direction, and catechizing. His most famous writings, the Treatise of the Love of God and the Introduction to the Devout Life, belong to these years. The latter was written for layfolk and was instantly acclaimed as fulfilling a long-felt need and was soon translated into several languages. One of his better-known friends was Jane Frances de Chantal, whom he first knew as a widow and who founded the Order of the Visitation in 1610 under his direction. Extremely influential as a director and writer, he excelled in gently leading ardent souls to the extremes of self-sacrifice and the love of God: one of his favourite sayings was that more flies are attracted by a spoonful of honey than by a whole barrel of vinegar. Nevertheless, the pleasant style of his direction should not blind the reader to the stern ideals which he propagated. He died at Lyons in a Visitandine convent on 28 December. His body was translated to Annecy in January 1623 and again to a new shrine in 1912. He was cannonized in 1665, declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877, and named patron saint of writers in 1923. He was specially influential in the revival of French Catholicism in the 17th century, but his works have appealed to Christians of many generations and many countries. Feast: 24 (formerly 29) January.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- Work of St. Francis of Sales in 26 volumes (1892–1932; Eng. tr. by H. B. Mackey and others,
6 vols. , 1883–1908); selected letters tr. by E. Stopp (1960). The most important early Life is by Ch. Aug. de Sales, his nephew, De Vita et rebus gestis…Francisci Salesii (1634); see also J. P. Camus, L'esprit du Bienheureux François de Sales (6 vols. , 1639–41; abridged in 1727, Eng. tr. 1910 and 1952). Modern studies include F. Trochu, Saint François de Sales (2 vols. , 1946) and E. J. Lajeunie, Saint François de Sales (2 vols. , 1966) and English biographies by E. K. Sanders (1928), M. de la Bédoyère (1960), M. Trouncer (1963), and R. Murphy (1964). See also R. Kleinman, Saint François de Sales and the Protestants (1962) and M. Henry-Couannier, Francis de Sales and his Friends (1964); H. Bordes and J. Hennequin (edd.), L'Univers Salésien: S. François de Sales hier et anjourd'hui (1994)
| Columbia Encyclopedia: Saint Francis de Sales |
Francis de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622, French Roman Catholic preacher, Doctor of the Church, and key figure in the Counter Reformation in France. He was a member of an aristocratic family of Savoy and was trained for the law, but he entered (1593) the priesthood against his father's wishes. His first years in the priesthood were spent in the district of Chablais preaching to its Protestant inhabitants. Credited with many conversions, he was made coadjutor bishop of Geneva in 1599 and bishop in 1602; he resided at Annecy in nearby Savoy. His fame as a preacher spread abroad, and from 1600 until his death he delivered Lent and Advent sermons in many of the great cities of France. In his diocese he set up schools and paid special attention to the poorer parishes. He was instrumental in the important reform of the Cistercian abbey Port-Royal. With St. Jane Frances de Chantal he founded the Order of the Visitation for women who could not undergo the austerities of the great established orders. His Introduction to the Devout Life is a widely read religious classic. His other major work is the Treatise on the Love of God. He is the patron saint of Roman Catholic writers. Feast: Jan. 29.
Bibliography
See biographies by J. P. Camus (1639; tr. by C. J. Kelly, 1952) and M. de La Bedoyère (1960).
Dictionary:
Francis of Sales (sālz, säl)  , Saint 1567-1622. |
French ecclesiastic who maintained in his many writings, such as Introduction to a Devout Life (1609), that spiritual perfection is possible not just for religious contemplatives but also for people involved in secular pursuits.
| Quotes By: St. Francis De Sales |
Quotes:
"While I am busy with little things, I am not required to do greater things."
"Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone."
"It is the mark of a mean, vulgar and ignoble spirit to dwell on the thought of food before meal times or worse to dwell on it afterwards, to discuss it and wallow in the remembered pleasures of every mouthful. Those whose minds dwell before dinner on the spit, and after on the dishes, are fit only to be scullions."
"There are no galley-slaves in the royal vessel of divine love -- every man works his oar voluntarily!"
"Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off."
"Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs."
See more famous quotes by
St. Francis De Sales
| Actor: Francis de Sales |
- Occupation: Actor
- Active: '50s-'60s
- Major Genres: Drama, Crime
- Career Highlights: Leave It to Beaver: Water, Anyone?
- First Major Screen Credit: Leave It to Beaver: Water, Anyone? (1957)
Biography
American actor Francis de Sales appeared on stage, screen, radio and television. He got his start on Broadway as one of the original "Dead End" kids. He later starred in his own radio series and from there moved into television until the late 1950s when he started his film career. De Sales continued appearing in films through the mid '70s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide| Filmography: Francis de Sales |
| Wikipedia: Francis de Sales |
- This article is about the Roman Catholic saint. For churches named after him, see Saint Francis de Sales church. For the American actor, see Francis De Sales (actor).
| Saint Francis de Sales | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church | |
| Born | August 21, 1567, Château de Thorens, Savoy |
| Died | December 28, 1622 (aged 55), Lyon, France |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion |
| Beatified | January 8, 1662, Rome by Pope Alexander VII |
| Canonized | April 8, 1665, Rome by Pope Alexander VII |
| Major shrine | Annecy, France |
| Feast | January 24 January 29 (local communities and among Traditional Roman Catholics) |
| Attributes | Heart of Jesus, Crown of Thorns |
| Patronage | Baker, Oregon; Cincinnati, Ohio; Catholic press; Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; educators; Upington, South Africa; Wilmington, Delaware; writers; journalists; the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest |
Saint Francis de Sales (French: Saint François de Sales) (August 21, 1567 – December 28, 1622) was Bishop of Geneva and is a Roman Catholic saint. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism, and was an accomplished preacher. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly Introduction to the Devout Life.
Contents |
Childhood and youth
Francis de Sales was born at Château de Thorens into a Savoyard noble family in what is today Thorens-Glières, Haute-Savoie, France. His father was François de Boisy and his mother was Françoise de Sionnz. The first of twelve children, he enjoyed a privileged education in La Roche and Annecy; his spiritual formation and academics were formed by the Jesuits (The Society of Jesus). His father only wanted him to attend the best schools. In 1578, at the age of 12 he went to the Collège de Clermont in Paris. A year later Francis was engulfed in a personal crisis when, after attending a theological discussion about predestination, he became convinced that he was damned to Hell. In December 1586 his despair was so great that he was physically ill and even bedridden for a time. In January 1587, he visited the Church of Saint-Etienne des Grès (St. Stephen) with great difficulty. There his crisis ended, and he decided to dedicate his life to God. Francis came to the conclusion that whatever God had in store for him was good, because God is Love, as Scripture attests. This faithful devotion to the God of love not only expelled his doubts, but also influenced the rest of his life and his teachings. His way of teaching Catholic spirituality is often referred to as the Way of Divine Love, or the Devout Life (the Holy Life), taken from a book he wrote of a similar name: Introduction to the Devout Life.
Formation
In 1588, Francis transferred from The University of Paris in Paris to the University of Padua where he studied both law and theology. There he made up his mind about becoming a priest. Intelligent and handsome, DeSales went through various conversion experiences that moved his heart to serve God rather than money or the world. One incident included his sword falling to the ground while riding a horse, and crossing another sword, making the sign of the Cross. DeSales took this, among other signs, that Christ was calling him to a life of sacrifice and self-giving love for The Church.
Graduation
In 1592, he ended his studies with the promotion to doctor certified in both law and theology. He made the pilgrimage to Loreto, Italy, famous for its shrine to the Virgin Mary, before going home. At home his father had already secured a variety of positions for his son, one of which was a position on the Senate of Chambéry. It was difficult for Francis's father to accept that his son had already chosen a vocation rather than a career.
After studying the humanities, rhetoric, theology, and law at La Roche, Annecy, Paris, and Padua, he famously refused to marry the wealthy heiress his father had chosen as his bride, preferring a clerical career. The intervention of Claude de Granier, then Bishop of Geneva, won him ordination and appointment as provost of the cathedral chapter of Geneva in 1593.
The Old Faith
Since the Reformation, the seat of the bishops of Geneva had been located at Annecy in Savoy, due to Calvinist control of Geneva itself. Francis, in his capacity as provost, engaged in enthusiastic campaigns of evangelism among the Protestants of Savoy, winning many returns to the Old Faith. He also traveled to Rome and Paris, where he forged alliances with Pope Clement VIII and the French King Henry IV.
St. Francis developed a sign language in order to teach a deaf man about God. Because of this, he is the patron saint of the deaf.
In 1602, Bishop Granier died, and Francis was consecrated Bishop of Geneva himself. During his years as bishop, he acquired a reputation as a spellbinding preacher and something of an ascetic; in particular, he was known as a friend of the poor, a man of almost supernatural affability and understanding. These last qualities come through wonderfully in his famous books. He died on 28 December 1622 in Lyon, while he travelled in the entourage of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy.
Saint Francis de Sales was beatified in 1661 by Pope Alexander VII, who then later canonized him in the year 1665. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Blessed Pius IX in 1877.[1]
The Roman Catholic Church today celebrates St Francis de Sales' feast on January 24, the day of his burial in Annecy in the year 1624.[2] From the year 1666, when his feast day was then inserted into the General Roman Calendar, until the reform of this calendar in 1969, it was observed on January 29. This feast day is still kept in some local areas and among Traditional Roman Catholics on January 29[3]
In 1923, Pope Pius XI proclaimed him a patron of writers and journalists, because of the books he wrote, the most famous of which was Introduction à la vie dévote ("Introduction to the Devout Life"). He also left the mystical Traité de l' Amour de Dieu ("Treatise on the Love of God") and many highly valued letters of spiritual direction. He was a notably clear and gracious stylist in French, Italian and Latin.
St Francis de Sales is buried at the basilica of the Visitation, Annecy. Many miracles have been reported at his shrine. The relic of his heart was kept at Lyon, whence during the French Revolution it was moved to Venice, where it is venerated today.
Along with Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Francis founded the women's Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Annecy on 6 June 1610.
The order of the Salesians of Don Bosco (s.d.b.), founded by St John Bosco in 1859 (approved by the Holy See in 1874), is named after him, as are the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (o.s.f.s.), founded by Louis Brisson, and the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, founded by Peter Mermier in 1830. The Paulist Fathers also count him as one of their patrons.
The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Society of Traditional Priests who celebrate the Latin Mass also has St. Francis De Sales as one of their three primary Patrons. The Institute promotes Salesian spirituality heavily, using the Saints writings to instruct both their Seminarians and lay faithful. As St. Francis is often depicted in art wearing blue Choir Dress, the approved Choir Dress for members of the Institute is also blue. One of the largest Apostolates of the Institute in the United States is the Oratory of St. Francis De Sales in St. Louis, Missouri.
The island St. François is named in honor of Francis de Sales.
DeSales University, located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, (formerly Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales), is named for St. Francis de Sales. It is a Catholic liberal arts college administered by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
Salesianum School, an all boys private school in Wilmington, Delaware, which is named after him, is also run by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
Also named in his honor, Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1876.
St Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Ct is also named after St Francis de Sales.
Saint Francis de Sales is recognized as an exemplary in the Church of England, where his memoria is also observed on January 24, and in the Church in Wales, when his memorial is moved to January 23, due to a conflict with St Cadoc.
See also
Prayer
O love eternal, my soul needeth and chooseth Thee eternally!
Ah, come Holy Ghost, and inflame our hearts with Thy love!
To love -- or to die!
To die -- and to love!
To die to all other love in order to live in Jesus' love, so that we may not die eternally;
but that we may live in Thine eternal love, O Saviour of our souls, we eternally sing, "Live, Jesus!
Jesus, I love!
Live, Jesus, whom I love!
Jesus, I love, Jesus Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever.
AMEN From The Treatise on the Love of God.
References
- ^ John J. Crawley. "St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church". Lives of Saints. EWTN. http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/DESALES.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- ^ "Calendarium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), p. 115
- ^ see the General Roman Calendar as in 1954, the General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius XII, and the General Roman Calendar of 1962
This article incorporates text from the entry St. Francis de Sales in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
Books
- Introduction to the Devout Life (Translated and Edited by John K. Ryan), Doubleday, 1972. ISBN 978-0-385-03009-0
- Set Your Heart Free (Edited by John Kirvan), Ave Maria Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59471-153-4
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Francis de Sales |
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Francis de Sales |
- Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Francis de Sales
- International Commission on Salesian Studies All about St. Francis de Sales worldwide
- Founder Statue in St Peter's Basilica
- Francis de Sales bio at Catholic.org
Works
- Better Translation of the book, "Introduction to the Devout Life".
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library Introduction to the devout life.
- Set Your Heart Free, 30 days with a great spiritual teacher, edited by John Kirvan.
- Spiritual Conferences.
- The Catholic Controversy.
- Treatise on the Love of God.
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