St. Francis de Sales, 1567-1622, Francis of Sales; Gentle Christ of Geneva; the Gentleman Saint
Bishop of Geneva at age 35 with a mission for the  Calvinists... Doctor of the Church. He wrote alsoto the lay people

    Born in a castle to a well-placed family, his parents intended that he become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the family line and power. Studied at La Roche, Annecy, Clermont College in Paris, and law at the University of Padua. Doctor of Law. He returned home, and found a position as Senate advocate.

    It was at this point that he received a message telling him to "Leave all and follow Me." He took this as a call to the priesthood, a move his family fiercely opposed. However, he pursued a devoted prayer life, and his gentle ways won over the family.

    Priest. Provost of the diocese of Geneva, Switzerland, a stronghold of Calvinists. Preacher, writer and spiritual director in the district of Chablais. His simple, clear explanations of Catholic doctrine, and his gentle way with everyone, brought many back to the Roman Church.

    Bishop of Geneva at age 35. Travelled and evangelized throughout the Duchy of Savoy, working with children whenever he could. Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul. Turned down a wealthy French bishopric. Helped found the Order of the Visitation with Saint Jeanne de Chantal. Prolific correspondent. Doctor of the Church.

    His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make them understand that they too are called to be saints. As he wrote in The Introduction to the Devout Life: “It is an error, or rather a heresy, to say devotion is incompatible with the life of a soldier, a tradesman, a prince, or a married woman.... It has happened that many have lost perfection in the desert who had preserved it in the world. ”

Born 1567 at Chateau of Thorens, Savoy

Died 28 December 1622 at Lyons; buried at Annecy

Beatified 8 January 1662 by Pope Alexander VII  - Canonized 19 April 1665 by Pope Alexander VII

Additional Information
          http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf03.htm

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Allentown College: Salesian Studies
 

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Writings

Introduction to the Devout Life, Saint Francis
Exercise of Virtues
Sermons of Saint Francis on Prayer
Treatise on the Love of God
 

Readings

 - Nothing makes us so prosperous in this world as to give alms.
- It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.
- Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.
- Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity. Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire. hope feeds us with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us into the Promised Land.
- Oh what remorse we shall feel at the end of our lives, when we look back upon the great number of instructions and examples afforded by God and the Saints for our perfection, and so carelessly received by us! If this end were to come to you today, how would you be pleased with the life you have led this year?
- We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.
- In the royal galley of divine Love, there is no galley slave: all rowers are volunteers.
- We are not drawn to God by iron chains, but by sweet attractions and holy inspirations.
- Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the soul.
- By giving yourself to God, you not only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal life as well.

Man is the perfection of the Universe.
The spirit is the perfection of man.
Love is the perfection of the spirit, and charity that of love.
Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.

- There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment, which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence, as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory.
- One of the principle effects of holy abandonment in God is evenness of spirits in the various accidents of this life, which is certainly a point of great perfection, and very pleasing to God. The way to maintain it is in imitation of the pilots, to look continually at the Pole Star, that is, the Divine Will, in order to be constantly in conformity with it. For it is this will which, with infinite wisdom rightly distributes prosperity and adversity, health and sickness, riches and poverty, honor and contempt, knowledge and ignorance, and all that happens in this life. On the other hand, if we regard creatures without this relation to God, we cannot prevent our feelings and disposition from changing, according to the variety of accidents which occur.
- Some torment themselves in seeking means to discover the art of loving God, and do not know - poor creatures - that there is no art or means of loving Him but to love those who love Him - that is, to begin to practice those thing which are pleasing to Him.
- Our business is to love what would have done. He wills our vocation as it is. Let us love that and not trifle away our time hankering after other people's vocations.
- Every moment comes to us pregnant with a command from God, only to pass on and plunge into eternity, there to remain forever what we have made of it.
- All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.
- An action of small value performed with much love of God is far more excellent than one of a higher virtue, done with less love of God.

Saint Francis de Sales....  More quotations of St. Francis of Sales