Francis of Sales, Saint

Francis of Sales, Saint

▪ French bishop
also called  Francis De Sales,  French  Saint François De Sales 
born Aug. 21, 1567, Thorens-Glières, Savoy
died Dec. 28, 1622, Lyon; canonized 1665; feast day January 24
 Roman Catholic bishop of Geneva and doctor of the church, who was active in the struggle against Calvinism and cofounded the order of Visitation Nuns. He wrote the devotional classic Introduction to a Devout Life (3rd definitive edition, 1609), which emphasized that spiritual perfection is possible for people busy with the affairs of the world and not only, as many believed at the time, for those who withdraw from society. In 1923 Pope Pius XI named him patron saint of writers.

      He was educated at the Jesuit college of Clermont in Paris (1580–88) and at Padua, Italy, where he received a doctorate in law (1591). After briefly practicing law he turned to religion and was ordained in 1593 at Annecy, chief town of his native Savoy. Francis began intense missionary work in Chablais, a district that had broken away from Savoy and had become Calvinist but had been regained by the duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel (Charles Emmanuel I), an ardent Catholic. Under his protection, Francis rewon the bulk of the people of Chablais to Catholicism. Francis was consecrated bishop of Geneva on Dec. 8, 1602. In 1610, with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Visitation of Holy Mary (the Visitation Nuns), which became principally a teaching order.

      Francis was the first to receive a solemn beatification at St. Peter's, Rome (1661). In 1877 he became the first writer in French to be named doctor of the church. In addition to his spiritual works, his writings include controversies against Calvinists, letters, sermons, and documents on diocesan administration.

Additional Reading
John K. Ryan (trans.), Introduction to the Devout Life, 2nd rev. ed. (1966, reprinted 1989); Henry Benedict Mackey (trans.), Treatise on the Love of God, 3rd ed. (1884, reprinted 1997); Maurice Henry-Coüannier, Saint Francis de Sales and His Friends (1964); André Ravier, Francis de Sales, Sage and Saint (1988); Wendy M. Wright, Bond of Perfection: Jeanne de Chantel & François de Sales (1985).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Francis de Sales, Saint — • Biographical article on the Bishop of Geneva, and Doctor of the Church, who died in 1622 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Francis of Sales,Saint — Francis of Sales (sālz, säl), Saint. 1567 1622. French ecclesiastic who maintained in his many writings, such as Introduction to a Devout Life (1609), that spiritual perfection is possible not just for religious contemplatives but also for people …   Universalium

  • Francis de Sales, Saint — born Aug. 21, 1567, Thorens Glières, Savoy died Dec. 28, 1622, Lyon; canonized 1665; feast day January 24 Roman Catholic bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church. He studied in Paris and at Padua and was ordained in 1593. He was consecrated… …   Universalium

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  • Francis of Sales — (1567–1622)    Saint, Bishop, Order Founder and Devotional Writer.    Francis was born in Savoy of an aristocratic family. He studied law at the Universities of Paris and Padua, but in 1593 he was ordained and he became Provost of Geneva. He… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • Francis of Sales — Fran′cis of Sales′ [[t]seɪlz[/t]] fr. [[t]sal[/t]] n. big Saint, 1567–1622, French ecclesiastic and writer on theology: bishop of Geneva 1602–22 …   From formal English to slang

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