St. Francis de Sales, C.O., O.M., O.F.M.Cap (1567-1622)
Feast Day - January 24th
As his family's eldest son, Francis received the education befitting a Savoyard noble intended for the magistracy. He excelled at the university, learning noble pastimes to please his father but eagerly devoting himself to theology and law, becoming doctor of both. Though Francis desire to be a priest angered his father, his cousin arranged his appointment as provost of Geneva's cathedral canons. These were exiled from their city by the Reformation, and Francis volunteered for the dangerous mission of recalling the territory to Catholicism. His persuasive preaching and writing bore great fruit in a steady stream of souls returning to the Church. Himself bishop for two decades, Francis gained the diocese fame for well instructed laity, excellent clergy, and efficient organization. His Introduction to the Devout Life, unusual at the time for its directions for lay holiness, became an instant spiritual classic. A doctor of the Church, Francis proved what he wrote to his friend St. Joan Frances de Chantal that "whoever preaches with love is preaching effectively." Patron of writers, journalists, the deaf
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