Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor – Readings

Commentary on Ephesians 3:8-12; John 15:9-17

The First Reading, from the Letter to the Ephesians, speaks to one of Francis’ outstanding qualities—his effectiveness as a preacher. Paul, while acknowledging his shortcomings, speaks of having been given the grace:

…to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things…

For Francis, it was to preach to those who had been won over by Calvinism, something he did with great success.  It was not unknown for people to burst into applause after he spoke.

During his last visit to Paris in 1618-19, he was constrained to go into the pulpit each day to satisfy the wishes of those who crowded to hear him. It was commented, “Never have such holy, apostolic sermons been preached.”  He also communicated the gospel message through his numerous writings and letters of spiritual direction.

The Gospel, on the other hand, from the 15th chapter of John’s Gospel, touches on the very heart of the Christian message.  Jesus tells his disciples at the Last Supper that he loves them in the same way that the Father loves Jesus.  To keep Jesus’ commandments is to be identified with his love, just as Jesus himself identifies totally with the love of the Father for him.

He then gives them the central commandment of his teaching, the fulfilment of which is all they need:

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

It is significant that he does not tell them to love God, nor even to love Jesus himself, but to love all those around them.  Later he will tell them that it is by this love for each other that people will recognise them as disciples of Jesus.  It is by the love they show for their brothers and sisters that they will show they love God.  For, as the First Letter of John says:

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (1 John 4:16)

Francis de Sales was a remarkable exemplar of this teaching.  He not only spoke in those wonderful sermons about love, but practised what he preached.  He was himself a person widely known for his love, gentleness, warmth and sensitivity for the needs of others.  He chose to live a life of extreme simplicity so that he could share more with the poor and needy.

He can be an example for each one of us in different ways.  Like him, we are all called to make the unconditional love of others the real test of our following of Christ and the gospel.  And, in one way or another, to express that love in word, in deed and in our relationships.

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Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor

Francis de Sales was born at Thorens, in the Duchy of Savoy on 21 August, 1567, the eldest of six brothers from aristocratic parents. He went to the colleges of La Roche and Annecy, and then for five years at the College of Clermont, Paris, under the care of the Jesuits. While studying theology, he developed serious scruples about the much discussed Calvinist issue of predestination from which he was freed while praying to Our Lady.  As a result, he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to Our Lady. His father selected one of the noblest heiresses of Savoy to be his future wife, but Francis declared his intention of embracing the ecclesiastical life. The Bishop of Geneva obtained for Francis the position of Provost of the Chapter of Geneva, a post in the patronage of the pope. It was the highest office in the diocese and Francis was ordained priest in 1593.

At Annecy, the seat of the bishopric of Geneva, the new provost devoted himself to preaching, hearing confessions, and the other work of his ministry. He was instrumental in bringing many people back to the Church from Calvinism, which had its centre in Geneva. The bishop, Claude de Granier, then chose an unwilling Francis as his coadjutor and sent him to Rome in 1599.  Pope Clement VIII ratified the choice.  On the death of de Granier, Francis was consecrated Bishop of Geneva in 1602, where he proved himself an extraordinary zealous and pastoral bishop. His goodness, patience and mildness became proverbial. He had an intense love for the poor, and himself lived a life of extreme simplicity in order to provide more for those in need.

Together with St Jane Frances de Chantal, in 1607 he founded the Institute of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, for young girls and widows who felt they did not have the strength or inclination for the greater austerities of the older orders. Here, he came into contact with all the distinguished ecclesiastics of the day, and in particular with St Vincent de Paul.

In 1622, he had to go with the Court of Savoy into France. At Lyons, he insisted on occupying a small, poorly furnished room in a house belonging to the gardener of the Visitation Convent. There, on 27 December, he experienced some form of stroke.  His last words were: “God’s will be done! Jesus, my God and my all!”  He died on 28 December, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

During the French Revolution his heart was brought by Visitation nuns from Lyons to Venice, where it is venerated today. He was beatified in 1661, and canonised by Pope Alexander VII in 1665.  He was proclaimed Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877. Among his many writings, his Introduction to the Devout Life became a classic of spiritual direction and is still read.

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