St. Francis De Sales
The Saint who vanquished forty-thousand Calvinists! Theologically, that is.
St. Francis’ Story
St Francis de Sales was born to a noble family at “Chateau de Sales in the Kingdom of Savoy near Geneva, Switzerland on August 21, 1567,” (Catholic Online). Gentle and intelligent, he wanted to serve God from when he was young and knew he had a vocation to the priesthood. However, he kept this hidden because he knew Law and Politics was the path his father wanted for him (Catholic Online). The idea was that Francis would take the place of his father as a senator (Franciscan Media).
Thus, needing to appease his family for the time being, Francis pursued education at the University of Paris and then received his doctoral law degree from the University of Padua at 28 years old (Catholic Online, Franciscan Media). He studied Theology and mental prayer as well but his devotion was hidden from his family while he studied fencing and riding as his father wished (Catholic Online).
Francis’ Call
Francis was riding one day when he fell from his horse. His sword came out of his scabbard and both the sword and scabbard came to rest upon the ground as a Christian Cross. This happened two more times, and he knew God’s will for his life was affirmed by this sign (Catholic Online).
He finally told his parents of his desire to enter the priesthood, which his father staunchly opposed (Catholic Online, Franciscan Media).
His father strongly opposed Francis in this, and only after much patient persuasiveness on the part of the gentle Francis did his father finally consent (Franciscan Media).
After much discussion Francis entered the priesthood and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva in 1593 (Catholic Online, Franciscan Media). Geneva was a center for Calvinists and Francis felt a need, so he designed an expedition he would lead to bring the sixty thousand Calvinists home to the Catholic Church (Catholic Online) by preaching and disseminating explanations of true Catholic doctrine (Franciscan Media).
The Expedition
The three years of the expedition were marked by trudging through the landscape with slammed doors in his face and thrown stones (Catholic Online). His feet would freeze in the winter and bleed as he continued, but Francis had a level of patience that was astounding and it allowed him to ignore the shut doors and closed ears. He distributed small pamphlets that he would slip under doorways (Catholic Online). Parents would not interact with him so he found a way to reach the children, and as they saw how kind he was playing with the children, the parents would begin to open up to Francis (Catholic Online).
His expedition was a marked success, it is believed that his expedition welcomed almost forty thousand people home (Catholic Online). In 1602, at 35 years old, Francis became the Bishop of Geneva and “continued to preach, hear confessions, and catechize the children,” (Franciscan Media).
The Order of Visitation
Francis noticed a widow in Dijon listening attentively while he preached, he had already seen her in a dream previously. She was Jane de Chantal, a dedicated Catholic, and together they would both begin on the path to Sainthood (Catholic Online).
Francis waited for a sure approval from the Lord before taking over Jane’s spiritual direction, and years later would go on to found the Order of Visitation. Jane and Francis worked together to form the Sisters of the Visitation, women practicing Mary’s virtues when she visited Elizabeth. These virtues are humility, piety, and mutual charity (Franciscan Media). Today their communities may conduct schools but operate primarily in living a strictly contemplative life (Franciscan Media).
His Writing
Francis has two primary works a wide audience will recognize, Introduction to the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God (Franciscan Media, Catholic Online). He also authored a vast deposit of pamphlets and letters, and for all of the writing he put to paper he was named the Patron Saint of the Catholic Press.
As he became older he became ill, and wanted to become a hermit. However, he was too in demand being needed by the Pope, “then a princess, then Louis XIII,” (Catholic Online). He died in 1622 after giving his last word of advice: “Humility,” (Catholic Online).
The Lesson
References
Catholic Online: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51
Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-francis-de-sales/