Click any of the following links to jump to different sections of our page dedicated to St. Francis de Sales.
Overview
- Birth: August 21, 1567
- Location: Château de Sales, Duchy of Savoy
- Death: December 28, 1622
- Beatification: January 8, 1661 by Pope Alexander VII
- Canonized: April 19, 1665 by Pope Alexander VII
- Feast Day: January 24
- Patron Saint of: adult education, the deaf, and journalists
Early Life
St. Francis de Sales was a French doctor of the Church during the Catholic Reformation. He suffered from severe depression during college, but was supported by a priest, who made a lasting impression on him.
After college, Francis’ father sent him to study law. Once he received his doctorate, however, Francis convinced his father to let him follow his true desire of becoming a priest.
Legacy
As a priest, Francis labored in an area hostile to the Catholic faith, suffering rejection and homelessness much of the time. When no one would listen, Francis wrote little pamphlets and slipped them under people’s doors.
By the time he left, Francis converted more than 40,000 people. His seminal work, “The Introduction to the Devout Life,” is regarded as a classic of Christian spirituality.
Francis served for many years as a bishop and expert spiritual director. He also worked closely with St. Jane Frances de Chantal in founding a women’s religious community, called the Order of the Visitation.
St. Francis de Sales Prayers
Saint Francis de Sales was known for many things, but most commonly known for his gentle demeanor and words. He lived and preached during the Protestant Reformation, which was riddled with political and religious turmoil. To pray for an increase in gentleness and charity despite world issues today, say these prayers:
Be at peace.
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
(Source)
O Blessed Francis, who in your life did excel in all virtues, especially in your love of God and of your neighbor, I earnestly ask you to take me under your immediate protection, to obtain from God my perfect conversion, and that of all sinners.
Teach me, O Father, to fix my eyes on heaven, that I may generously trample under foot every obstacle that presents itself in my way, and attain that degree of glory which you in your mercy hold out to me.
Obtain also the favor for which I now pray: (mention your request here).
Assist us O Lord, we beseech you, through the merits of St. Francis de Sales that, what our endeavors cannot obtain may be given to us by his intercession.
O God, who for the salvation of souls, did will that St. Francis de Sales should become all things to all men and women, mercifully grant that we, helped by the gentleness of his charity, guided by his teachings, and sharing in his merits, may obtain eternal happiness. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Source)
Lord, I am Yours,
and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours,
and must live only by You.
My will is Yours,
and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause,
since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest,
since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being,
since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself,
since I am all Yours and all in You.
Amen.
(Source)
St. Francis de Sales Quotes
- “Concerning those virtues pertaining to our duties in life, preference must be given to those which are most effective, not those which may be the most showy.”
- “Salt and sugar are both excellent things, but too much of either spoils the dish.”
- “Mere silence is not wisdom, for wisdom consists of knowing when and how to speak, and when and where to keep silent.”
- “Let your speech be gentle, frank, sincere, straightforward, candid, and faithful.”
- “Take it as a certain sign that your charity is not genuine if your words, no matter how true, are not charitable.”
Patronage
- Saint Francis de Sales – Miami, Fla.
- St. Francis de Sales Oratory – St. Louis, Miss.
- St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church – New York, N.Y.
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church – Morgantown, W.Va.
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church – Norton Shores, Mich.
- St. Francis de Sales Early Childhood Learning Center – Herkimer, N.Y.
- Saint Francis de Sales School – Philadelphia, Pa.
- St. Francis de Sales School – Toledo, Ohio
- Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales – Wilmington, Del.