Francis de Sales


Francis de Sales

Saint Francis de Sales
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Born21 August 1567
Château de Sales, Duchy of Savoy, Holy Roman Empire
Died28 December 1622(1622-12-28) (aged 55)
Lyon, Lyonnais, Kingdom of France
Beatified8 January 1661, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Alexander VII
Canonized8 April 1665, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Alexander VII
Feast
  • 24 January (General Roman Calendar of 1969)
  • 29 January (General Roman Calendar of 1960 and local communities)
AttributesHeart of Jesus, Crown of Thorns
PatronageBaker, Oregon; Cincinnati, Ohio; Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana; Catholic press; Columbus, Ohio; confessors; deaf people; educators; Upington, South Africa; Wilmington, Delaware; writers; journalists; the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; Missionary of St. Francis De Sales  ; Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; Salesians of Don Bosco
Saint

Francis de Sales
Bishop of Geneva
Native name
François de Sales
ProvinceVienne
DioceseGeneva
Appointed15 July 1602 (Coadjutor)
Installed8 December 1602
Term ended28 December 1622
PredecessorClaude de Granier
SuccessorJean-François de Sales
Previous post(s)Titular Bishop of Nicopolis ad Iaterum (1602)
Orders
Ordination18 December 1593
Consecration8 December 1602
Personal details
MottoNon-excidet
Coat of armsFrancis de Sales's coat of arms

Francis de Sales, C.O., O.M. (French: François de Sales; Italian: Francesco di Sales; 21 August 1567 – 28 December 1622) was a Savoyard Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Geneva and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God.