St. Francis de Sales: the Gentleman Saint

The front inside pages of "Introduction to the Devout Life."

St. Francis de Sales, whose feast day is Jan. 24, was the author of “Introduction to the Devout Life,” which was written for laity, especially women. Written in 1609, some of its teachings can still offer much to our world today.

Living from 1567 to 1622, Francis de Sales was in the time of the Protestant Reformation. Called “the Gentleman Saint,” he was known for his patience and gentleness. He counseled charity over penance as a means of progressing in the spiritual life.

In this month’s blog I want to touch on three virtues he highlights in “Introduction to the Devout Life”: gentleness, patience with ourselves, and respect in conversation.

Bee on hibiscus bloom.

Gentleness

“Humility perfects our relationship with God, gentleness our relationship with our neighbor.” (p. 113)

Patience with Ourselves

“One of the best exercises of gentleness is to be patient with ourselves and our imperfections.” (p. 117)

White petunias blooming in Motherhouse garden.

Respect in Our Conversations

“Mockery is one of the worst of vices, one which God detests…Nothing is so opposed to charity, and even more to devotion, as contempt and scorn for those about us. Derision or mocking always involves contempt and so is gravely sinful, so that theologians rightly hold mockery for the worst sin of the tongue we can commit against our neighbor; for other offenses are committed with some respect for the person offended, but this is committed with contempt and scorn.” (p. 160)

Bird of Paradise blooming in Motherhouse gardens.

As Sisters of St. Joseph with an Ignatian-Salesian spirituality, we are grateful for the gift that St. Francis de Sales was to the Church and the world. He is the patron of the Catholic press, writers, journalists. and deaf persons. He is also a Doctor of the Church. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.