St. Francis de Sales – Patron Saint of Journalists

St. Francis de Sales Biography

St. Francis de Sales was a Catholic bishop and Doctor of the Church. He was born on August 21, 1567, in the Château de Sales into a noble family in the Kingdom of Savoy, which is now part of France. He was well-educated, fluent in several languages, and accomplished in various fields such as poetry, philosophy and theology.

Francis was ordained a priest in 1593 and later appointed bishop of Geneva in 1602. During his time as bishop, he worked to reconcile the Catholics and Calvinists in the region, many of whom had been at odds for decades. His approach was one of kindness and persuasion rather than force, and he was able to bring many Calvinists back to the Catholic faith through his gentle and compassionate demeanor.

In addition to his work as a bishop, Francis was also a prolific author and spiritual guide. He wrote several books, including “”Introduction to the Devout Life”” and “”Treatise on the Love of God,”” which were widely read and influential in the Catholic Church. He also founded the Visitation of Holy Mary, an order of nuns dedicated to education and service to the poor.

Francis was a tireless worker and a gifted spiritual director. He wrote over 400 letters per year, often to laypeople, many of whom he never met. His approach to spiritual direction has been celebrated as a model of simplicity, balance and common sense and can be summarized as “”be who you are””. He encouraged the development of the individual person’s talents, interests and aspirations within the context of their relationship with God.

Francis de Sales died on December 28, 1622, in Lyon, France and was canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1665. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877. His feast day is celebrated on January 24th, and he is the patron saint of writers, journalists and speakers.

His writings and method of spiritual direction have been very influential in the Catholic Church, and his teachings on devotion and the spiritual life are still widely read and studied today.

Francis de Sales has been recognized by many as a spiritual master, and his writings have been translated into several languages. His methods of spiritual direction and devotion to God and others continue to be studied and practiced today. His legacy also continue to inspire the Visitation sisters and other religious communities, as well as lay people, to live in the world, but not of the world.

Francis de Sales’s teaching and writings continue to be referenced in various contexts, as a source of wisdom and guidance for anyone looking for a more peaceful, balanced and loving way of life. His relevance and popularity are also proven by the presence of schools, hospital, and Parishes named after him, as well as many statues, painting and other forms of art dedicated to him.

The Life of St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales was born of noble and pious parents in Sales, France, in 1567. He gave up the prospects of a grand career laid out to him by his father in order to become a Priest. It is claimed that even in childhood he had the adult heart of the Saints. His joy was to be with God in prayer; his recreation, to read the lives of the Saints.

St. Francis de Sales was a great scholar who excelled in philosophy and theology. Francis often struggled with the seeming impossibility of salvation and strived every day to improve his prayers and practice of faith so as grow closer to God.

Quest for Evangelization

On December 18, 1593, Francis was ordained Priest. When the Duke of Savoy decided to restore the Catholic Faith, Francis volunteered his services to restore Christianity. He set out on foot with a Bible, a missal and one companion, his cousin Louis of Sales. Every door and every heart was closed against him. He was insulted and threatened with death.

However, after four years of strenuous labor and prayers hardly a hundred heretics remained. It is claimed that he converted 72,000 Calvinists. All the glory of this result must be attributed under God to the virtues, wisdom, preaching, sufferings and perseverance of this great Saint. St. Francis became Bishop of Geneva in 1622, and in union with St. Jane Frances of Chantal founded at Annecy the Order of the Visitation, which soon spread over Europe. A considerable part of the last years of his life were spent in preparing the Constitutions of the Order and composing the “”Treatise on the Love of God””

After a life spent in good works, St. Francis died on December 28, 1622. Pope Pius IX conferred on him the rare title of Doctor of the Church.

St. Francis de Sales Patron Saint of Journalists and the Deaf

Today, the Catholic Church regards St. Francis de Sales as the patron saint of both journalists and the deaf. Saint Francis de Sales dedicated his entire life to spreading the Good News to all people. he comprised numerous writing to teach countless others of the important role of Jesus in their lives. His writings remain to this day a source of information and education for the faithful, and as such the Church regards St. Francis de Sales as the patron saint of journalists and all those who work in media.

Saint Frances de Sales also ministered to those who were rejected or often forgotten. St. Francis developed a new form of sign language in order to minister to the deaf he encountered and to teach them about Jesus as he did countless others. For this incredible devotion and care for others, the Church honors St. Francis de Sales as the patron saint of the deaf.

May we all turn to God in our daily lives and come to regularly recite the following prayer written by St. Francis de Sales:
My God, I give you this day. I offer you, now, all of the good that I shall do and I promise to accept, for love of you, all of the difficulty that I shall meet. Help me to conduct myself during this day in a manner pleasing to you. Amen.

You may also be interested in learning about St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis Xavier

Prayers to St. Francis de Sales

Prayer written by St. Francis de Sales

O my God, I thank you and I praise
you for accomplishing your holy
and all-lovable will without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!

It is the cross of Your choice,
the cross of Your love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish that it had not come,
since You willed it.

I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything that comes from Your hand;
and I shall strive to carry it without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection which Your works deserve. Amen.

---

Prayer for peace written by St. Francis de Sales

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.

---

Prayer for the intercession of St. Francis de Sales

O God, by whose gracious will the Blessed Francis, thy confessor and bishop, became all things unto all men, for the saving of their souls, mercifully grant that, being filled with the sweetness of thy love, we may, through the guidance of his counsels, and by the aid of his merits, attain unto the joys of life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer to St. Francis de Sales

Dear St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists, I come to you seeking guidance and inspiration. Help me to communicate the truth with clarity and compassion, so that the message I convey may bring hope and joy to those who hear it.

Grant me the wisdom to choose my words carefully and the courage to speak truthfully and kindly, even when it is difficult. Show me how to bring your light and love to the world through my words, and to always use my talents for the glory of God.

I pray that you will be with me always, guiding me and sustaining me as I write, so that I may reflect your gentle spirit and communicate your message of peace and hope to all who read my words. Amen.

Prayer of Trust in St. Francis de Sales

Dear St. Francis de Sales, you showed us how to live a life of deep trust and confidence in God’s love and care for us. Help me to follow in your footsteps and to trust in God’s love and plan for my life, even in the midst of trials and difficulties.

Teach me to place my faith and trust in God alone, to seek comfort in God’s loving arms, and to have the courage to surrender all my fears and worries to God’s will.

I pray that you will be with me always, helping me to trust in God’s love and to live in peace and joy, no matter what life brings. Amen.

Prayer for Peace and Patience in St. Francis de Sales

Dear St. Francis de Sales, you taught us the importance of peace and patience in our lives. Help me to cultivate peace in my heart, even in the midst of chaos and turmoil, and to practice patience in all my dealings with others.

Grant me the grace to respond to difficulties with peace and calm, to persevere in prayer and service to others, and to be an instrument of peace in a world that often lacks it.

I pray that you will be with me always, strengthening me in my commitment to peace and helping me to embody your gentle spirit in all that I do. Amen.

 

St. Francis de Sales: The Patron Saint of Journalists and Writers

St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of journalists and writers. He was a 17th century bishop and theologian known for his writings on the Catholic faith and for his gentle and compassionate approach to pastoral care.

St. Francis de Sales was a gifted writer, and his writings have had a lasting impact on the Church and on the world. He is remembered for his clear and concise writing style, as well as for his ability to communicate complex theological concepts in a way that was accessible and understandable to all.

Because of his powerful and enduring legacy as a writer and a communicator, St. Francis de Sales has become a symbol of inspiration and guidance for journalists and writers. He reminds us of the importance of using our words and our writing to share the truth and to make a positive impact on the world.

For those in the media and writing professions, St. Francis de Sales offers a source of inspiration and encouragement. He is a reminder that our words and our writing have the power to shape the world, and that it is our responsibility to use that power for good.

 

Reflection on the feast day of St. Francis de Sales

The feast day of St. Francis de Sales is January 24th.

As we gather to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, we are reminded of the powerful impact this French bishop had on the Church in the 17th century. Born in the city of Thorens-Glières, France, St. Francis de Sales was known for his kindness and compassion, as well as his skill as a preacher and his dedication to the education of the faithful. He served as the bishop of Geneva, Switzerland and was known for his successful efforts to bring the Calvinists back to the Catholic faith through his gentle and persuasive approach.

St. Francis de Sales’s life is a testament to the power of charity in action, he showed that love and kindness can be more effective than force and coercion in winning hearts and minds. He was a bishop, a spiritual guide, and an author, but he never let his positions or his talents go to his head. He always put the needs of others before his own, and his life was a reflection of the love of Christ.

As we reflect on the life and teachings of St. Francis de Sales, we are reminded that love and kindness are powerful tools in the quest for the truth. He teaches us that we can serve God in any job or profession, and that we can be a light in the world and a reflection of the love of Christ in the most ordinary of lives. He encourages us to be patient and gentle in our approach to others and to use our talents and abilities for the greater good. He also remind us of the importance of spiritual direction and education of the faithful.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, let us give thanks for the powerful example he has set for us and commit ourselves to following in his footsteps by living lives of charity, kindness, and compassion. May his example inspire us to be a light in the world and a reflection of the love of Christ in all we do, especially when it comes to spreading the faith and educating the faithful.

In conclusion, St. Francis de Sales’s life is an example of how to be a faithful servant of God in any circumstances and how to be a light in the world, he teaches us that through charity, kindness, and compassion we can reflect the love of Christ in our everyday lives. May his example guide us to be more like him, and live a life of holiness.

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Saints Similar to St. Francis de Sales

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Francis of Assisi and the Biography of St. Francis Xavier and the Biography of St. Gabriel Possenti. St. Francis de Sales, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Francis Xavier share the same first name, “Francis,” and are recognized for their significant contributions to the Catholic faith. Next up: Biography of St. Francis of Assisi

 

Also check out our handmade St. Francis de Sales Medal and St. Francis de Sales Rosary and St. Francis e Sales Rosary Bracelet .