St. Francis de Sales: Patron Saint of Writers and Journalists - Life, Feast Day and Prayer
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St. Francis de Sales, engraving after Marlier. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
St. Francis de Sales was a bishop, preacher and spiritual guide known for his gentleness and his conviction that holiness is meant for everyone, not only priests and religious. His book Introduction to the Devout Life is still one of the most widely read Catholic classics. He is a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of writers and journalists.
Quick Facts
Feast day: January 24
Born: August 21, 1567, Château de Sales, Savoy (now France)
Died: December 28, 1622, Lyon, France
Beatified: 1661, by Pope Alexander VII
Canonized: 1665, by Pope Alexander VII
Doctor of the Church: 1877, by Pope Pius IX
Patron of: Writers, journalists, the Catholic press, the deaf, educators
Symbols: Bishop's vestments, a heart surrounded by thorns, a book and pen
His Life
Francis was born into a noble family in the Duchy of Savoy, in the Alps between France and Italy. His father planned a brilliant career for him as a lawyer and statesman, and sent him to study in Paris and then at the University of Padua, where he earned doctorates in civil and canon law. As a student in Paris, Francis went through a terrible period of fear that he was destined to be lost. He found peace only after praying the Memorare before a statue of Our Lady and offering himself completely to God's love.
Against his father's wishes, Francis gave up a promising career and an arranged marriage to become a priest. He was ordained in 1593. The next year he volunteered for a hard mission: to bring the people of the Chablais region, on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, back to the Catholic faith. Most of them had become Calvinists, and at first almost no one would listen to him. Francis was threatened and once spent a night in a tree to escape wolves.
Since people would not come to hear him, he wrote short explanations of Catholic teaching, had them copied and slipped them under doors and posted them in public places. Over several years, through patience, kindness and these little leaflets, thousands returned to the Church. This is why Pope Pius XI named him patron of writers and journalists in 1923. Francis also taught a deaf man to communicate by signs so that he could receive the sacraments, and he is honored as patron of the deaf.
In 1602 Francis became bishop of Geneva, though because the city was under Calvinist control he lived at Annecy. He was a tireless pastor, preacher and confessor. He wrote letters of spiritual direction to people from every walk of life, and in 1609 he published the Introduction to the Devout Life, which teaches that married people, soldiers, workers and courtiers can all grow in holiness in their ordinary duties. His later Treatise on the Love of God is a masterpiece of spiritual theology.
With St. Jane Frances de Chantal, a widow he guided, he founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary in 1610, a community of women devoted to prayer and humility. Francis was naturally quick-tempered, but he worked so hard at gentleness that he became known for it. He died of a stroke in Lyon on December 28, 1622, at the age of fifty-five. He was canonized in 1665 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877.
Legacy
St. Francis de Sales showed that holiness is possible in every state of life and that truth is best shared with patience and gentleness. His famous saying, "You catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrel of vinegar," sums up his approach. Writers, teachers and parents still learn from his patient, kind way of drawing others to God.
Prayer to St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales, you won hearts for Christ through gentleness, patience and the written word. Pray for all writers, journalists and teachers, that they may serve the truth with kindness. Help us to grow in holiness in our daily duties and to meet every trial with a peaceful heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Original prayer by Daily Catholic Prayers. You may print and share it freely.
How to Celebrate His Feast Day
Pray the prayer above for writers, journalists and anyone who works with words.
Read a chapter of the Introduction to the Devout Life.
Practice gentleness: answer one irritation today with a kind word.
Write a letter or message of encouragement to someone who needs it.
Pray the Memorare, the prayer that brought him peace as a young man.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales?
January 24. He died on December 28, 1622, and was buried in Annecy on January 24, 1623.
What is St. Francis de Sales the patron saint of?
Writers, journalists, the Catholic press, the deaf and educators.
What is St. Francis de Sales's most famous book?
Introduction to the Devout Life, published in 1609.
Who did St. Francis de Sales found a religious order with?
St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Together they founded the Visitation Order in 1610.
Is St. Francis de Sales a Doctor of the Church?
Yes. Pope Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1877.
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