In 1602 he journeyed to Paris to organise the restoration of Catholic worship in the Gex area, part of his diocese and now reverted to French jurisdiction. Before being translated into action, the apostolate must be a personal relationship of love; indeed every activity not suggested by love is doomed to failure. It is easy to see that this teaching, though seemingly lofty and grand, does not in any way repudiate what the Gospel demands. However, it must be stressed that this was in no way a kind of ‘racism' within the Church; this élite was of a spiritual nature and nothing to do with social ladders. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. The whole devout life draws its inspiration from a deep personal love for Jesus Christ. Let us recall the holy man who, for the love of God, slakes the thirst of a poor and thirsty wayfarer with a glass of water. St. Francis de Sales’ Feast Day: January 24th. St. Francis de Sales was beatified on January 8, 1661 and canonized on April 19, 1665 by Pope Alexander VII. We must prefer the virtues that fit in best with our personal situation and the duties of our state of life, `the better ones, not the most noticeable ones'11: humility, `awareness of our deficiencies and frailties'; and to this virtue he dedicated four chapters of his Philothea,- gentleness, which is humility towards our neighbour and the flower of fraternal charity, and simplicity; and then the `important virtues' of obedience, chastity and poverty. It reveals Francis de Sales as a director of souls, an educator dedicated to the spiritual good of men and women desirous to live an authentic Christian life within the hurly-burly of their mundane tasks. In 1622 he was obliged to undertake another painful journey: to go to Avignon to the members of the royal family of France, and accompany them via Rodano to Lyons. Mike Mendl, SDB. St. Francis, born in 1567 to a wealthy family, led an interesting life, the details of which are too great to expound here, but I recommend the Catholic Encyclopedia article on his life for a good recounting of the details. More About St Francis de Sales St. Francis de Sales. If they could, they would engrave the name of Jesus on the hearts of all humankind. Leaflets were slipped under front doors and were furtively read by the inmates and discussed with animation. He is also the patron saint of the deaf, journalists, adult education, and the Sisters of St. Joseph. He adds that charity does not arouse all the other virtues in the same way. Migne (5 vols., quarto) and Vivès (12 vols., octavo, Paris) have edited the works of St. Francis de Sales. It is worth noting that one of the books that St Francis de Sales held in special esteem was the Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli. Certain external contrasts in the two Saints have already been noted in these pages. He only set foot in the city of Geneva twice -- once when the Pope sent him to try to convert Calvin's successor, Beza, and another when he traveled through it. We read in his letters to the Baroness de Chantal that for this he would refuse all further dignities. The substance of man is his heart; and his vocation is to love. He believed the worst sin was to judge someone or to gossip about them. Francis fell from his horse three times that day. It will be helpful to gain a better understanding of this affinity of John Bosco the disciple with Francis the model. Francis' pastoral and spiritual experience convinced him that there is a spiritual hierarchy among God's creatures. Meet … Francis de Sales clearly accepted the notion of a Christian élite for whom it was well worthwhile to give special attention and time. St. Francis de Sales died in Lyons on December 28, 1622. Each individual soul needs to be instructed, encouraged, educated according to personal needs. Closed Now. All the time, he never lost his passion for God. These sayings from St. Francis de Sales have been gleaned from his collected letters, homilies, conferences and publications. We do not know the date of the third interview, but according to Charles-Auguste de Sales, it had taken place. Francis' unusual patience kept him working. Both Francis de Sales and John Bosco in their apostolate ran a course of popular apologetics in their preaching and writing. Francis would have us eliminate all self-seeking. St. Francis de Sales’ Feast Day: January 24th. If I have not charity I am nothing... God is love... love comes from God... let us love one another; for love is of God, ... Love is patient and kind... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things... Love never ends... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. He is the patron saint of journalists because of the books and tracts that he wrote which impacted so many lives. 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