St. Francis de Sales
Posted on February 10, 2019 by admin No comments
Born: 21 August 1567 Château de Sales, Duchy of Savoy, Holy Roman Empire
Died: 28 December 1622 (aged 55) Lyons, Lyonnais, Kingdom of France
Beatified: 8 January 1661, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Alexander VII
Canonized: 8 April 1665, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Alexander VII
Feast: 24 January, 29 January (local communities and among Traditional Roman Catholics)
Patronage: Baker, Oregon; Cincinnati, Ohio; Catholic press; Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; educators; Upington, South Africa; Wilmington, Delaware; writers; journalists; the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; Salesians of Don Bosco
Born in the castle of Château de Thorens to a well-placed Savoyard family, the eldest of twelve children born to François de Boisy and Françoise de Sionnz. His parents intended that Francis become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the family line and power. He studied at La Roche and Annecy in France, taught by Jesuits. Attended the Collège de Clermont in Paris, France at age 12. In his early teens, Francis began to believe in pre-destination, and was so afraid that he was pre-emptorily condemned to Hell that he became ill and eventually was confined to bed. However, in January 1587 at the Church of Saint Stephen, he overcame the crisis, decided that whatever God had in store for him was for the best, and dedicated his life to God.
Studied law and theology at the University of Padua, Italy, and earned a doctorate in both fields. He returned home, and found a position as Senate advocate. It was at this point that he received a message telling him to “Leave all and follow Me.” He took this as a call to the priesthood, a move his family fiercely opposed, especially when he refused a marriage that had been arranged for him. However, he pursued a devoted prayer life, and his gentle ways won over the family.
Priest. In 1593 he was appointed provost of the diocese of Geneva, Switzerland, a stronghold of Calvinists. Preacher, writer and spiritual director in the district of Chablais. His simple, clear explanations of Catholic doctrine, and his gentle way with everyone, brought many back to the Roman Church. He even used sign language in order to bring the message to the deaf, leading to his patronage of deaf people.
Bishop of Geneva in 1602. He travelled and evangelized throughout the Duchy of Savoy, working with children whenever he could. Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul. He turned down a wealthy French bishopric to continue working where God had placed him. With Saint Jeanne de Chantal he helped found the Order of the Visitation . A prolific correspondent, many of his letters have survived. The value of his writings led to his being declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Blessed Pius IX in 1877, and a patron of writers and journalists by Pope Pius XI in 1923. The Salesians of Don Bosco, the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, and the Missionaries of Saint Francis de Sales are named in his honour as is the Saint François Atoll in the Seychelles Islands.
Prayer of St. Francis de Sales – Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father who cares for you todaywill take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from sufferingor will give you unfailing strength to bear it.Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Prayer of St. Francis de Sales to Blessed Virgin Mary
O Blessed Virgin, dear mother of mine, I salute you, and revere you with all my heart. Mother of Mercy, pray for me. Queen of Heaven, I commend my soul to you. O my tender Mother, obtain that I may be loved by your Son. Sweet hope with Jesus, sweet refuge of sinners, I throw myself at your feet. Cause me to experience the effect of the power which you possess with the Holy Trinity, O glorious Virgin Mary. Amen
Prayer to St. Francis de Sales for special Need
Say not, merciful Virgin, that you cannot help me; for your beloved Son has given you all power in heaven and on earth. Say not that you ought not assist me, for you are the mother of all the poor children of Adam, and mine in particular. Since then, merciful Virgin, you are my mother and you are all-powerful, what excuse can you offer if you do not lend your assistance? See. my mother, see, you are obliged to grant me what I ask, and to yield to my entreaties.
St. Francis de Sales’s an act of Abandonment
O my God, I thank you and I praiseyou for accomplishing your holyand all-lovable will without any regard for mine.With my whole heart,in spite of my heart,do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Your choice,the cross of Your love.I venerate it;nor for anything in the worldwould I wish that it had not come,since You willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,as I do everything that comes from Your hand;and I shall strive to carry it without letting it drag,with all the respectand all the affection which Your works deserve. Amen.
St. Francis de Sales’s direction of Intention
My God, I give you this day. I offer you, now, all of the good that I shall do and I promise to accept, for love of you, all of the difficulty that I shall meet. Help me to conduct myself during this day in a manner pleasing to you. Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis de Sales
Lord, I am yours, and I must belong to no one but you. My soul is yours,and must live only by you. My will is yours,and must love only for you. I must love you as my first cause, since I am from you.I must love you as my end and rest, since I am for you. I must love you more than my own being, since my being subsists by you. I must love you more than myself, since I am all yours and all in you. AMEN.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart by St. Francis De Sales
May thy heart dwell always in our hearts! May thy blood ever flow in the veins of our souls! O sun of our hearts, thou givest life to all things by the rays of thy goodness! I will not go until thy heart has strengthened me, O Lord Jesus! May the heart of Jesus be the king of my heart! Blessed be God. Amen.
Novena to St. Francis de Sales
(Please recite this novena for 9 days)
O blessed Francis de Sales, who on earth did excel in a life of virtue, especially in the love of God and neighbor, I earnestly ask you to take me under your compassionate care and protection. Obtain for me conversion of mind and heart. Grant that all people, especially (names of those whom you wish to include) may experience the depth of God’s redeeming and healing love.
Teach me to fix my eyes on the things of heaven even as I walk each day with my feet planted firmly on the earth. Help me, through the practice of virtue and the pursuit of devotion, to avoid anything that would otherwise cause me to stumble in my attempt to follow Christ and to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit.
Encouraged by your prayers and example, help me to live fully my sacred dignity with the hope of experiencing my sacred destiny: eternal life with God. Receive also this particular need or concern that I now lift up in
prayer. (mention your particular need).
O God, for the salvation of all, you desired that St. Francis de Sales- preacher, missionary, confessor, bishop and founder should befriend many along the road to salvation. Mercifully grant that we, infused with the humility and gentleness of his charity, guided by his wisdom and sharing in his spirit may experience eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Litany to St. Francis de Sales
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, redeemer of all, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Francis, loved by God, pray for us.
Francis, lover of God, pray for us.
Francis, imitator of Christ, pray for us.
Francis, lover of the Cross, pray for us.
Francis, companion of the saints, pray for us.
Francis, imitator of the Apostles, pray for us.
Francis, glory of confessors, pray for us.
Francis, light of the Church, pray for us.
Francis, founder of Visitation, pray for us.
Francis, good shepherd, pray for us.
Francis, teacher of the faith, pray for us.
Francis, patron of devotion, pray for us.
Francis, distinguished preacher, pray for us.
Francis, great missionary, pray for us.
Francis, gentle confessor, pray for us.
Francis, spiritual director, pray for us.
Francis, patron of the deaf, pray for us.
Francis, patron of the press, pray for us.
Francis, salt of the earth, pray for us.
Francis, model of humility, pray for us.
Francis, model of gentleness, pray for us.
Francis, man of compassion, pray for us.
Francis, courageous reformer, pray for us.
Francis, companion and guide, pray for us.
Francis, lover of beauty, pray for us.
Pray for us, St. Francis de Sales, make us worthy of the promises
of Christ.
Let us Pray
Loving God, you gave St. Francis de Sales the spirit of compassion, enabling him to befriend many along the road to salvation. Through his inspiration and example, help us to embody your humble, gentle and passionate love in the service of our brothers and sisters. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.