The life of Francis de Sales, apostle of kindness and doctor of the Church, is a clear example of a constant spiritual battle against sin. The life of Francis shows that everything is possible when one loves God and is filled with his grace. This man full of virtues “was born at Thorens, in the Duchy of Savoy, on August 21, 1567.”[1] Thanks to his mother, a great woman of faith, Francis received an excellent evangelical education since his childhood. He inherited her patience, perseverance, and the way she behaved with others. On the other hand, his father never agreed with her maternal influence on Francis, so he used to hire people to teach him how to be rigorous and demanding. At the age of eight, the child received his First Communion at Annecy College. The Holy Communion helped him in his spiritual life and commitment to Christ. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, reading about the lives of saints, prayer, and the poor were his main concerns.
Since he was very little, Francis felt the passionate desire to devote himself to Christ. He studied rhetoric, philosophy, and theology at the Clermont Jesuit School under the direction of P. Déage. The decision he took to consecrate himself to the Blessed Virgin helped him overcome difficulties and maintain his purity and chastity. His role models were St. Francis of Assisi and St. Philip Neri. Francis de Sales biggest spiritual battle was anger, but he knew how to keep calm at all times. Moreover, some people never knew or heard about the interior struggle that Francis had. Often he experienced a deep anguish when he used to think about his condemnation and separation from God's love in hell. However, the Virgin Mary helped him to move forward in his mission.
In 1588, he began to study law in Padua as his father had wished; without neglecting the theology he needed to become a priest. Francis strictly followed the plan of life that he drew when he was eight years old. He used to make a daily examination of conscience in which he would propose to be friendlier in his relations with others. Also, he frequented confession and received communion every week. He defended his vocation patiently until he managed to overcome the will of his father, who did not want his son to become a priest. Once ordained as a priest, he was assigned to the southern shore of Lake Geneva to fight against Protestantism. There, he worked very hard despite the difficulties and rejections. In the complicated mission of Chablais, he had to practice patience and wait confidently for people to accept faith. Through his dedication and patience, he won the affection of the people which led to many conversions to Christianity. His only instrument was "love" as he told St. Jane de Chantal: “I have frequently repeated that the best way to preach against heretics is love, even without saying a word of refute their doctrines” [2]
Francis was consecrated Bishop of Geneva in 1602.[3] Immediately, he was known for his generosity, charity, and humility. Janel Chantal was one of the countless people who he helped spiritually. He met her in 1604 when he preached a sermon of Lent in Dijon. “Three years after working with Jane, he finally made up his mind to form a new religious order” called the Visitation.[4]. One of his famous quotes is: "a sad saint would be a sorry saint."[5] He died on December 28, 1622, “after giving a nun his last word of advice: 'Humility'."[6] After his death, Bishop Camus stated that when removing Francis' gallbladder 33 stones were found. This demonstrates the great effort Francis de Sales had put forth throughout his life in order to change his temper and inclinations for evil moods into meekness. Alexander VII canonized him on April 19, 1665. Finally, Francis de Sales is considered the patron of Catholic journalists and writers.
[1] “St. Francis de Sales” Theology of the Heart-Lives of Saints (5 August 2016), at www.piercehearts.org.
[2] “St. Francis de Sales” Theology of the Heart-Lives of Saints (5 August 2016), at www.piercehearts.org.
[3] Catholic Encyclopedia, “St. Teresa of Avila” (5 August 2016), at www. Newadvent.org.
[4] “St. Teresa of Avila- saints and angels”, at Catholic Online (5 August 2016), at www.catholiconline.org.
[5] Frank j. Sheed, “Saints Are Not Sad, Short Biographies of Joyful Saints”, Ignatius (Press San Francisco 2012), 25.
[6] “St. Francis de Sales” Theology of the Heart-Lives of Saints (5 August 2016), at www.piercehearts.org.
Bibliography
Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Teresa of Avila. 5 August 2016,
www.newadvent.org/cathen/06220a.htm
St. Teresa of Avila- saints and angels, at Catholic Online. 5 August 2016, at
www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51
St. Francis de Sales, Theology of the Heart-Lives of Saints. 5 August 2016, at
www.piercedhearts.org/theology_heart/life_saints/francis_sales.htm
Sheed, Frank J. Saints Are Not Sad, Short Biographies of Joyful Saints, Ignatius, Press San
Francisco 2012, 25.
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