St. Francis de Sales

Their story

Francis de Sales was born on August 21, 1567, at the family castle of Sales in Savoy, in the Alps near Geneva. His father planned a brilliant career for him and sent him to study in Paris and Padua, where he earned a doctorate in law. But Francis had long felt that God was calling him to be a priest. As a student he went through a terrible spiritual crisis, afraid that he was not among those God would save, and he found peace only by giving himself completely to God's love. He was ordained in 1593 and volunteered for a dangerous mission to the Chablais region, where most people had become Calvinist. Doors were shut in his face, and he faced cold, hunger and threats on his life. Undaunted, he wrote short explanations of the Catholic faith and slipped them under doors. His patience and gentleness slowly won hearts, and many returned to the Church. These pamphlets are why he is the patron of writers and journalists. In 1602 Francis became bishop of Geneva. He was a tireless preacher, confessor and spiritual guide. His book Introduction to the Devout Life taught that holiness is not only for priests and religious but for everyone, in every walk of life. With St. Jane Frances de Chantal he founded the Visitation Sisters. He also taught a deaf man to communicate in signs so he could receive the sacraments, and he is a patron of the deaf. He died on December 28, 1622, and is a Doctor of the Church, remembered for his saying that you catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrel of vinegar.