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24 January: Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Preacher and evangelizer in the midst of controversy

Born on 21 August 1567 in the Château de Sales in Thorens-Glières (Upper Savoy), Francis de Sales grew up in a Catholic family belonging to the Savoyard aristocracy. His father, who served as maître d’hôtel to Count Sébastien of Luxembourg-Martigues, was also Lord of Sales.

At just 11 years old, he showed great promise and a deep desire to become a priest. However, his father had other ambitions for him. In September 1587, he sent him to study in Paris at the Jesuit-run Collège de Clermont. In 1591, he obtained his doctorate degree, returned to Savoy and renounced his noble titles as firstborn. He was ordained a priest in 1593. From then on, he led a life of prayer and penance. He asked his bishop to support his efforts to bring the Calvinists of Chablais back to the Catholic faith. Appointed Bishop of Geneva in 1602, he was forced to reside in Annecy because the city had fallen into the hands of the Calvinists. As a traveling preacher, he reached out to families, prisoners, the poor and the sick, implementing the reforms of the Council of Trent. With his noble and refined spirit and his humanism, he became a great spiritual director. His Philothea, which was written in a conversational style, was almost an intimate dialogue, aimed at guiding readers to the perfection of love. He also wrote Treatise on the Love of God, with the goal of presenting every person with their essential vocation: to live is to love.

He understood the importance of the printed word and was a man of action, establishing an Academy in Thonon for the professional formation of young people.

In 1610, along with Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded and directed the Order of the Visitation. He died in Lyon on 28 December 1622. His remains were translated to Annecy on 24 January 1623, which is the date of his liturgical memorial. Canonized in 1665 by Pope Alexander VII and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1877, he is the Patron Saint of journalists, media professionals, and Catholic writers. Don Bosco was inspired by Saint Francis de Sales’ apostolate and chose him as the Patron Saint of the Salesian Society.

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