Saint Francis De Sales
Francis de Sales was a French-language theologian, Catholic bishop, Catholic priest, and writer associated with the Counter-Reformation.
He was born on August 31, 1567, at the Château de Sales. His education took him to the University of Padua, and he went on to serve as both a Catholic priest and a Catholic bishop. His work as a theologian and writer ran alongside those ecclesiastical roles throughout his life.
Francis de Sales wrote in the French language and was associated with the Counter-Reformation, the broad Catholic movement of the period. That association shaped the context in which he worked as a priest, bishop, theologian, and writer. The Counter-Reformation provided the setting within which Catholic figures of his era engaged with questions of faith and Church teaching, and Francis de Sales participated in that effort across several of his vocations at once.
He died on December 28, 1622, in Lyon. The Library of Congress records him under the authorized label "Francis, de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622." His use of the French language and his sustained association with the Counter-Reformation are the two threads that run most consistently through the record of his life.
Quotes by Saint Francis De Sales
Saint Francis De Sales's insights on:
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not "What a lovely sermon!" but "I will do something.
Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit for without being seen they are present with you.
The highest degree of meekness consists in seeing, serving, honoring, and treating amiably, on occasion, those who are not to our taste, and who show themselves unfriendly, ungrateful, and troublesome to us.
A dance is the devil’s procession, and he that entereth into a dance, entereth into his possession.
The declared enemies of God and His Church, heretics and schismatics, must be criticized as much as possible, as long as truth is not denied. It is a work of charity to shout: ‘Here is the wolf!’ when it enters the flock or anywhere else.
The highest point of humility consists in not merely acknowledging one’s abjection, but in taking pleasure therein, not from any want of breadth or courage, but to give the more glory to God’s Divine Majesty, and to esteem one’s neighbour more highly than one’s self.
Don’t get upset with your imperfections. Surrender to the Power of God’s Love, which is greater than our weakness.
Work hard every day at increasing your purity of heart, which consists in appraising things and weighing them in the balance of God’s will.
Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.