St. François de Sales was born on August 21, 1567, at the Château de Sales in the Kingdom of Savoy near Lake Geneva (modern day Thorens-Glières, France, in the Haute-Savoie department). His father, François de Sales de Boisy, and his mother, Françoise de Sionnaz, belonged to old Savoyard aristocratic families. The future saint was the eldest of six brothers.
Though frail and delicate, he had a quick, intelligent mind and a gentle, kind disposition. In 1580, he entered the University of Paris and was drawn to the study of theology. He then attended the University of Padua, where he received his Doctorate in both Civil and Canon Law at the age of 24. His father wanted him to pursue a career in law and politics and enter into an advantageous marriage. However, François wanted to be a priest and, against his father's wishes, was ordained in 1593 by the Bishop of Geneva.
The Catholic Church at that time was losing many of its people to Protestantism. François set out to restore Catholicism in the Chablais Region. Tirelessly and patiently preaching the ancient faith, writing leaflets that clearly explained the Catholic view, he gradually re-established Catholicism, winning back over 70,000 in the area.
In 1602, he was appointed Bishop of Geneva. From his Bishop's Residence in Annecy, he organized his diocese and, with a winning gentleness, ministered to his people. In 1608, his famous book, "An Introduction to the Devout Life," was published, and, in 1610, he founded the Order of the Visitation with St. Jeanne Frances de Chantal.
While ministering to the Visitation Nuns in Lyon, he was seized with apoplexy (a stroke, which is a ruptured blood vessel in the brain). He received the Rite of Extreme Unction, and made his profession of faith, repeating the words: "La volonté de Dieu soit faite! Jésus, mon Dieu et mon tout!" translated: "The will of God is done! Jesus, my God and my all!" He passed away on December 28, 1622, in the 56th year of his life.
The people of Lyons were anxious to keep his remains in their city. With much difficulty, his body was brought back to Annecy, but his heart was left at Lyons. A great number of miracles have been obtained at his tomb in the Visitation Convent of Annecy. His heart, at the time of the French Revolution, was carried by the Visitation nuns from Lyons to Venice, where it is venerated today. St. François de Sales was beatified in 1661 and canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1665. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877. His feast day is January 24.
St. François de Sales was born on August 21, 1567, at the Château de Sales in the Kingdom of Savoy near Lake Geneva (modern day Thorens-Glières, France, in the Haute-Savoie department). His father, François de Sales de Boisy, and his mother, Françoise de Sionnaz, belonged to old Savoyard aristocratic families. The future saint was the eldest of six brothers.
Though frail and delicate, he had a quick, intelligent mind and a gentle, kind disposition. In 1580, he entered the University of Paris and was drawn to the study of theology. He then attended the University of Padua, where he received his Doctorate in both Civil and Canon Law at the age of 24. His father wanted him to pursue a career in law and politics and enter into an advantageous marriage. However, François wanted to be a priest and, against his father's wishes, was ordained in 1593 by the Bishop of Geneva.
The Catholic Church at that time was losing many of its people to Protestantism. François set out to restore Catholicism in the Chablais Region. Tirelessly and patiently preaching the ancient faith, writing leaflets that clearly explained the Catholic view, he gradually re-established Catholicism, winning back over 70,000 in the area.
In 1602, he was appointed Bishop of Geneva. From his Bishop's Residence in Annecy, he organized his diocese and, with a winning gentleness, ministered to his people. In 1608, his famous book, "An Introduction to the Devout Life," was published, and, in 1610, he founded the Order of the Visitation with St. Jeanne Frances de Chantal.
While ministering to the Visitation Nuns in Lyon, he was seized with apoplexy (a stroke, which is a ruptured blood vessel in the brain). He received the Rite of Extreme Unction, and made his profession of faith, repeating the words: "La volonté de Dieu soit faite! Jésus, mon Dieu et mon tout!" translated: "The will of God is done! Jesus, my God and my all!" He passed away on December 28, 1622, in the 56th year of his life.
The people of Lyons were anxious to keep his remains in their city. With much difficulty, his body was brought back to Annecy, but his heart was left at Lyons. A great number of miracles have been obtained at his tomb in the Visitation Convent of Annecy. His heart, at the time of the French Revolution, was carried by the Visitation nuns from Lyons to Venice, where it is venerated today. St. François de Sales was beatified in 1661 and canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1665. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877. His feast day is January 24.
Bio by: ahley
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