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[[Image:St_francisdesales.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Saint Francis of Sales]]

[[Image:St_francisdesales.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Saint Francis of Sales]]

'''Saint Francis of Sales''' (b. 1567, died 1622) from Thorens in the Duchy of Savoy, [[France]]. He was the [[Bishop]] of [[Geneva]] that converted forty-thousand [[Protestants]]. Francis was a [[patient]] holy man that provided simple, clear explanations of [[Catholic]] doctrine. He is a [[Doctor of the Church]] and is called the Gentleman Saint.

'''Saint Francis of Sales''' (born 1567, died 1622) from Thorens in the Duchy of Savoy, [[France]]. He was the [[Bishop]] of [[Geneva]] that converted forty-thousand [[Protestants]]. Francis was a [[patient]] holy man that provided simple, clear explanations of [[Catholic]] doctrine. He is a [[Doctor of the Church]] and is called the Gentleman Saint.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

First born of twelve children to an aristocratic family, father François de Sales de Boisy and mother Françoise de Sionnaz. His parents intended that he become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the powerful family line. For thirteen years, he knew he was destined to be a [[priest]] but let nobody know of his intentions. At an early age, his father sent him to the colleges of La Roche and Annecy. He began to study theology at the college of Clermont, Paris under the care of the [[Jesuits]]. Francis went to Padua to get a [[doctorate]] in law. Upon completion of schooling, he had been admitted as a lawyer before the senate of Chambéry and about to be appointed [[senator]]. Francis declared his intention of embracing the ecclesiastical life, a move his family fiercely opposed. Without knowing about it, Francis was appointed provost of his [[diocese]], second in rank to the [[bishop]].

First born of twelve children to an aristocratic family, father François de Sales de Boisy and mother Françoise de Sionnaz. His parents intended that he become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the powerful family line. For thirteen years, he knew he was destined to be a [[priest]] but let nobody know of his intentions. At an early age, his father sent him to the colleges of La Roche and Annecy. He began to study theology at the college of Clermont, Paris under the care of the [[Jesuits]]. Francis went to Padua to get a [[doctorate]] in law. Upon completion of schooling, he had been admitted as a lawyer before the senate of Chambéry and about to be appointed [[senator]]. Francis declared his intention of embracing the ecclesiastical life, a move his family fiercely opposed. Without knowing about it, Francis was appointed provost of his [[diocese]], second in rank to the [[bishop]].

==Conversions==

==Conversions==

Just over the mountains from where Francis lived was [[Switzerland]], [[Calvinist]] territory during the time of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. Francis decided that he should lead an expedition to convert the Calvinists back to Catholicism. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51 St. Francis de Sales] Catholic Online</ref> The diocese was too poor to support him and the expedition became only Francis and his cousin. For three years they had doors slammed in their faces and even rocks thrown at them. His cousin had left him and he had not made one convert. Francis' unusual patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. He wrote out his [[sermon]]s and slipped them under the doors. This is the first record of religious tracts being used to communicate with people. By the time he went back home, he had converted 40,000 back to Catholicism. In 1602 at age 35, he was made bishop of the diocese of [[Geneva]].

Just over the mountains from where Francis lived was [[Switzerland]], [[Calvinist]] territory during the time of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. Francis decided that he should lead an expedition to convert the Calvinists back to Catholicism.<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51 St. Francis de Sales] Catholic Online</ref> The diocese was too poor to support him and the expedition became only Francis and his cousin. For three years they had doors slammed in their faces and even rocks thrown at them. His cousin had left him and he had not made one convert. Francis' unusual patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. He wrote out his [[sermon]]s and slipped them under the doors. This is the first record of religious tracts being used to communicate with people. By the time he went back home, he had converted 40,000 back to Catholicism. In 1602 at age 35, he was made bishop of the diocese of [[Geneva]].

==Collaborations with future Saints==

==Collaborations with future Saints==

In 1607, Francis with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Institute of the Visitation of the [[Blessed Virgin]], for young girls and widows. During his stay in Paris, he gave sermons from the pulpit. The French citizens had declared, "Never, have such holy, such apostolic sermons been preached." He came into contact here with all the distinguished ecclesiastics of the day, and in particular with [[St. Vincent de Paul]]. His friends tried energetically to induce him to remain in France, which he declined. <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06220a.htm</ref>

In 1607, Francis with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Institute of the Visitation of the [[Blessed Virgin]], for young girls and widows. During his stay in Paris, he gave sermons from the pulpit. The French citizens had declared, "Never, have such holy, such apostolic sermons been preached." He came into contact here with all the distinguished ecclesiastics of the day, and in particular with [[St. Vincent de Paul]]. His friends tried energetically to induce him to remain in France, which he declined.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06220a.htm</ref>

==Canonized==

==Canonized==

*Man is the perfection of the Universe. The spirit is the perfection of man. Love is the perfection of the spirit, and charity that of love. Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.

*Man is the perfection of the Universe. The spirit is the perfection of man. Love is the perfection of the spirit, and charity that of love. Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.

*All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.

*All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.

*Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you. <ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saintf03.htm Saint Francis de Sales] Star Quest Production Network</ref>

*Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.<ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saintf03.htm Saint Francis de Sales] Star Quest Production Network</ref>

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.theworkofgod.org/Library/Sermons/F_Sales.htm THE SERMONS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ON PRAYER]

*[http://www.theworkofgod.org/Library/Sermons/F_Sales.htm THE SERMONS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ON PRAYER]

*[http://www.cin.org/saints/exervirt.html The Exercise of Virtues]

*[http://www.cin.org/saints/exervirt.html The Exercise of Virtues]