Francis de Sales, Saint, 1567–1622, French Roman Catholic preacher, Doctor of the Church, and key figure in the Counter Reformation in France. He was a member of an aristocratic family of Savoy and was trained for the law, but he entered (1593) the priesthood against his father's wishes. His first years in the priesthood were spent in the district of Chablais preaching to its Protestant inhabitants. Credited with many conversions, he was made coadjutor bishop of Geneva in 1599 and bishop in 1602; he resided at Annecy in nearby Savoy. His fame as a preacher spread abroad, and from 1600 until his death he delivered Lent and Advent sermons in many of the great cities of France. In his diocese he set up schools and paid special attention to the poorer parishes. He was instrumental in the important reform of the Cistercian abbey Port-Royal Port-Royal , former abbey of women, c.17 mi (27 km) W of Paris, founded in 1204. It was at first Benedictine, later Cistercian. In 1608 the abbess, Angélique Arnauld (see Arnauld, family), undertook a reform with the counsel of St. Francis de Sales.
..... Click the link for more information. . With St. Jane Frances de Chantal he founded the Order of the Visitation for women who could not undergo the austerities of the great established orders. His Introduction to the Devout Life is a widely read religious classic. His other major work is the Treatise on the Love of God. He is the patron saint of Roman Catholic writers. Feast: Jan. 29.

Bibliography

See biographies by J. P. Camus (1639; tr. by C. J. Kelly, 1952) and M. de La Bedoyère (1960).

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 bishop of Geneva in 1602. In 1610, with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Visitation of Holy Mary (the Visitation Nuns), a teaching order. His Introduction to a Devout Life (1609) argued that spiritual perfection is possible for ordinary individuals busy with worldly affairs. He was an active opponent of Calvinism. Pius XI named him patron saint of writers.

Mentioned in	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			Francesco Misiano Francesco Patrizi Francesco Redi Francesco Rosi Francesco Saverio Nitti Francesco Tamagno Franceville Franche-Comte Franche-Comté Franchet d'Esperey, Louis Félix Marie François Franchet DEsperey, Louis Felix Marie Francois Franchet DEsperey, Louis Félix Marie François franchise Francia Francia, Francesco Francia, José Gaspar Rodríguez Francia, Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, José Gaspar Rodríguez de Franciabigio Francis Francis Bacon Francis Beaumont Francis Borgia, Saint Francis Brett Harte Francis Castelnau Francis de Sales, Saint Francis Drake Francis Ferdinand Francis formula Francis Galton Francis Glisson Francis Harry Compton Crick Francis Herbert Bradley Francis Hutcheson Francis I Francis II Francis Jammes Francis John Welsh Whipple Francis Joseph Francis Joseph I Francis Jourdain Francis Leopold McClintock Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests Francis of Assisi Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis of Assisi, St. Francis of Sales Francis of Sales, Saint Francis Otto Matthiessen Francis Parker Shepard Francis Perrin			Francis Bacon (philosopher) Francis Bacon (philosopher) Francis Bacon (Playwright) Francis Bacon (Playwright) Francis Bacon Research Trust Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam Francis Beaufort Francis Beaufort Francis Beaumont Francis Beaumont Francis Beverly Biddle Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory Francis Borgia, Saint Francis Bret Harte Francis Brett Harte Francis Brett Harte Francis Burt Law Education Centre Francis C. Crick Francis Castelnau Francis Cauffman Foley Hoffmann Architects, Ltd. Francis Channing Barlow Francis Coppola Francis Coppola Francis Crick Francis Crick Francis de Sales Francis de Sales Francis de Sales, Saint Francis Douce Francis Douglas Memorial College Francis Drake Francis Drake Francis Drake, the Voyages of Francis Drake, the Voyages of Francis Edgar Stanley Francis Edgeworth Francis Edward Clark Francis Everett Townsend Francis Ferdinand Francis Ferdinand Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola Presents Francis formula Francis Galton Francis Galton Francis Glisson Francis Granger Middle School Francis H.C. Crick Francis Harry Compton Crick Francis Harry Compton Crick Francis Henry Compton Crick Francis Herbert Bradley Francis Hodgson Burnett Francis Hopkinson Francis Hopkinson Francis Hotman