24 January 2019
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Conflict and division exist as constant themes in history and there is no better place to find these two cankers of society than in Geneva in the early 17th century. A city proud of its independence, it saw in the the reform thought of Jean Calvin a different way of expressing religious belief that fit their own civic freedom. When rulers of the area became Catholic, no little indignation and violence no doubt would have resulted in the town if it were not for the presence of Francis de Sales as bishop. He was a man who was known as devout, learned, and a gentleman, traits perhaps he picked as a student at the Jesuit college he attended before entering the priesthood. He became bishop of Geneva in 1602 and held the position until his death in 1622. Known as the “gentleman saint” St. Francis’s admonition was to preach with love. His classic work, Introduction to the Devout Life, earned him the title Doctor of the Church as it promoted charity above penance and advanced a direction for spiritual growth still used today. His ability to be a calming force in the midst of a storm should both console us and encourage us to imitate his patience, learning, and his desire for God’s gift of peace.