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Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales. I honor one of my favorite patron saints by posting this article. He is the patron saint of my diocese (Wilmington, DE) and of the high school I went to, Salesianum School. I have learned much about him over the years, and he is truly one of the greatest spiritual directors the Catholic Church has ever known.

St. Francis de Sales' spirituality, which is taken from the example of his life and his writings, can be summed up in two words: Vive Jesu! (Live Jesus!) This is a simple command to us to set our lives in the example of Jesus our Lord and Redeemer.

St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of deafness, authors, educators, journalists, and all who are called to the devout life, whether lay or religious, PRAY FOR US!

Go courageously to do whatever
you are called to do.
If you have any fears, say to your soul:
”The Lord will provide for us.”
If your weakness troubles you,
cast yourselves on God, and trust in him.
The apostles were mostly unlearned fishermen,
but God gave them learning enough
for the work they had to do.
Trust in him, depend on his providence;
fear nothing.

St. Francis de Sales

Ping! (Please ping people who might be interested in this thread too!)

BTTT!

Doctors of the Catholic Church

ST FRANCIS DE SALES IS THE DOCTOR OF AUTHORS AND THE CATHOLIC PRESS. HE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE 'GENTLEMAN' SAINT BECAUSE OF HIS TREMENDOUS KINDNESS. HE IS THE PATRON OF JOURNALISTS AND A SUPERB MODEL FOR OVERCOMING TEMPTATION AND DEPRESSION.

FRANCIS WAS AN AMAZING BISHOP WHO CARED GENTLY FOR HIS FLOCK. ALTHOUGH HE HAD SPECIAL FAVORITE RELIGIOUS AND CLERGY FRIENDS, HE IDENTIFIED WITH THE LAITY ENORMOUSLY. WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION OR TEMPTATION, READ AND IMPLORE FRANCIS TO HELP YOU. HE WRITES WISELY ABOUT WORRY AND ANXIETY WHICH IS SO PREVALENT IN TODAY'S WORLD.

FRANCIS' WRITINGS ON SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND COUNSEL ARE UNSURPASSED AND HE BELIEVED THAT ALL ARE CALLED TO BE SAINTS BECAUSE OF GOD'S UNLIMITED LOVE FOR EACH.

SAYINGS FROM HIS SPIRITUAL CLASSIC, INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE, ARE FOUND AT THE END.

St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622. Doctor of Authors and the Catholic Press, Feast Jan 24th.

Women/Faith and Family

Saint Francis de Sales,
Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Memorial
January 24th

Portrait of St. Francis de Sales by J. J. Owens (early 20th century)

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) born in Thorens, Savoy, in France, was Bishop of Geneva; here he fought Calvinism vigorously. With St. Jane de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation. He wrote Introduction to the Devout Life, a classic of spiritual direction. He died in Lyons and was canonized in 1665. In 1877, Pius IX proclaimed him Doctor of the Church. Pius XI declared him patron of journalists and other writers.