Francis de Sales

Francis (François de Sales ) (* August 21, 1567 at Castle Sales, Thorens- Glières, † December 28, 1622 in Lyon) was Prince-Bishop of Geneva based in Annecy, Founder, mystic and Doctor of the Church. He is the patron of writers, journalists, the deaf and the cities of Geneva, Annecy and Chambery.

  • 7.1 German edition of the works
  • 7.2 Biographies
  • 7.3 secondary literature
  • 7.4 Novels and short stories
  • 7.5 Curiosities
  • 7.6 Music

Life

Childhood and youth

Francis comes from a noble family of Savoy. His father was François de Boisy, his mother, Françoise de Sionnaz. He was the first of twelve children. The father wanted the best schooling for his firstborn. His first education was enjoying Franz in La Roche and Annecy. 1578, so the age of twelve, he entered the Collège de Clermont in Paris. Here it a few years later got into a personal crisis. He knew the theological discussions of the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, which claims that God has determined from eternity which man is destined to salvation and what man to destruction. This doctrine made ​​it difficult to create.

Francis even thought for a while that God would damn him. In December 1586 his despair was so strong that he was physically sick. In January 1587 he was able to drag only with great difficulty in the church of Saint - Etienne des Gres. There he prayed the Memorare and overcame its crisis by entrusting his life to God. Franz came to the conclusion that whatever God intended to do with it, it is good because God is love. He had become free. This trustful surrender to the God of love not only resolved his crisis, but influenced rest of his life and teachings. His positive of God and of man, and his optimism go to this experience at the end of his crisis of Paris back.

1588 joined Francis of Paris to the University of Padua. There he studied alongside the law also theology. In it cemented the decision to become a priest. In 1592 he graduated with the doctorate of Laws ( ecclesiastical and secular law ) from and returned to a pilgrimage through Loreto back home, where his father had already passed a lot for further legal career of his son in the ways below including a seat in the Senate of Chambéry. Only with difficulty, the father could accept that his son pursued another career goal.

Missionary in the Chablais

On March 7, 1593, Pope Clement VIII appointed provost of Annecy. There, Francis was consecrated on 18 December of the same year for priests. Shortly after his ordination he agreed, the Chablais to work on the re-establishment of the Catholic faith in Calvinistic become part of the Diocese of Geneva. Since the Calvinists people prohibited under penalty, to hear his sermons, Francis took advantage of the then new medium of the leaflet to bring his thoughts to the people. And he succeeded. After four years, almost the entire population of the Chablais returned to the Catholic faith. This " press action " was one of the reasons why Francis de Sales in 1923, on the occasion of his 300th anniversary of the death of Pope Pius XI. was named the patron saint of writers and journalists.

Coadjutor Bishop

1598 traveled Francis de Sales on behalf of his bishop, Claude de Granier to Rome. There he reported not only on the situation in his diocese, but laid before Pope Clement VIII and a College of Cardinals from a brilliant bishop exam. In 1599 he was consequently appointed coadjutor to the Bishop of the Diocese of Geneva - Annecy with the right of succession.

End of 1601 Francis went to his first diplomatic mission to Paris to discuss with King Henry IV recatholicisation belonging to France parts of the Diocese of Geneva. However, his talks did not bring the desired success. Francis, however, impressed the people of Paris by his sermons. He also learned at this time Madame Barbe Acarie, which was later beatified as Marie of the Incarnation, to know and appreciate. This led at that time together with her husband a circle of Christian laity who wished to renew religious life in France.

Prince-Bishop of Geneva based in Annecy

On his return from Paris Francis learned of the death of his bishop. On December 8, 1602, he was appointed Prince-Bishop of Geneva ordained in his home church of Thorens- Glières at Annecy. Since the city of Geneva was under the rule of the Calvinists, the bishops of Geneva had to reside in Annecy. Its main activities as a bishop in the next 20 years until his death were mainly the implementation of the reforms of the Council of Trent, the reform of the monasteries and the clergy. He attended as the first bishop all 311 parishes of his diocese and held more than 3,000 sermons. He cared for the religious instruction of children and the promotion of the education of adults. To this end he founded in 1606 together with Antoine Favre the Académie Florimontagne, an educational institution in the nature of today's Académie française in which were the questions of modern science not only discussed, but found also in the overall context of the Christian faith. As a lawyer, he was repeatedly asked for advice in cases of dispute. He impressed people by his great gentleness and warmth, which is why he is still referred to as the " gentleman " among the saints. Paid particular attention Francis de Sales on the spiritual guide. In many of the approximately 20,000 letters that he wrote in his life, he turns to people who asked him for advice in life and faith issues.

Jane Frances de Chantal and founding of the Visitation

1604 met Francis of Jane Frémyot widow, Baroness de Chantal. From this encounter is a unique spiritual friendship that led on 6 June 1610 establishing the Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation, today known as Salesian Sisters or Visitation developed. Pope Paul V. gave this congregation on October 6, 1618 their worldwide recognition.

Writer

In 1609 he published his book Introduction to the Devout Life, in German-speaking mainly known under the title Philothea. This book, in which Francis de Sales explains in practical steps how people can realize their Christian in business and everyday life, became a bestseller. It is still among the Top Ten of the Christian world literature. His theological masterpiece published Francis de Sales in 1616, entitled Treatise on the Love of God or Treatise. Through this work, Francis de Sales of the 17th century joins the ranks of the most important Christian mystics.

The final years

In the years 1618/19 Francis undertook his second diplomatic trip to Paris. There he met Angélique Arnauld next ( in the convent of Port Royal des Champs ) and the St. Vincent de Paul. Reason for the trip was the wedding of Prince Victor Amadeus of Savoy and Princess Christine of France, sister of Louis XIII .. Francis de Sales had this significant contribution to the reconciliation of the French king with his mother Maria de Medici. His attempt to dissuade the young Cardinal Richelieu from interfering as a bishop in the policy, but failed.

Through his ceaseless activity suffered his health. More and more was his desire to drop the episcopate and to retire to a hermitage to serve God with the Rosary and the spring. But this dream was no longer true. In late autumn 1622 Franz escorted despite his ailing health to the Duke of Savoy to Avignon to meet with King Louis XIII. On the return trip, he suffered a stroke in Lyon. Franz died at the age of 55 years on 28 December in 1622. His body was transferred to Annecy and the end of January 1623 in the Church of the Monastery of the Visitation buried in Annecy.

Canonization, Memorial Day and patronages

  • Catholic: January 24 ( bid Memorial in general Roman calendar )
  • Anglican: January 24

The beatification took place on December 18, 1661 by Pope Alexander VII on April 19, 1665 Francis was also canonized by Alexander VII. On July 19, 1877, Pope Pius IX declared. for Doctor ecclesiae ( Doctor of the Church ). On the occasion of his 300th death anniversary on December 28, 1922 Pope Pius XI appointed him. Patron of Catholic writers and journalists. ( See also encyclical Rerum omnium perturbationem. ) In addition, Francis de Sales in 1869 by Blessed Pope Pius IX. been appointed Patron of the Deaf and patron of the cities of Geneva, Annecy and Chambery.

Kirchenpatrozinien etc. see: Franz von Sales Church, Franz Sales House

Works

  • Controversial writings
  • Philothea: Introduction to the Devout Life
  • Treatise: Treatise on the Love of God
  • Spiritual calls ( Visitation )
  • Spiritual Directory ( Visitation )
  • Letters and sermons

Theology

Salesian is, life in the presence of a loving God in everything I do, and so that the people I meet do not get a gracious, winning, positive, cordial manner, the impression that life in God's presence would be a burden to me or make me sick and depressed, but this life into the presence of God gives me life in abundance; Christianity in everyday life; Small virtues: humility, meekness, patience, kindness, optimism. Sales based on the word of the biblical Creator of the living things of the world, they are to bear fruit, each according to its kind (Gen. 3:11). Everyone is called to bring its fruit. A bishop can not and should not live like a monk. Spouses do not like Capuchins and craftsmen not as contemplative religious, half the day praying. But all the fruit God wants each according to its kind Francis created a new unity between work and religion.

People who Francis de Sales has influenced

  • St. Jane Frances de Chantal ( co-founder of the Visitation )
  • Barbe Acarie - Blessed Marie of the Incarnation
  • Raymond Bonal (founder of Bonalisten )
  • St. Vincent de Paul (founder of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity )
  • St. Margaret Mary Alacoque ( Sacred Heart devotion )
  • St. Paul of the Cross (founder of the Passionists )
  • Congregation of Our Lady of the Visitation of Ghent (founded in 1682)
  • St. Therese of Lisieux ( The Little Way, Education through visitation )
  • Redemptorists ( St. Alphonsus Maria di Liguori )
  • Pallottiner ( St. Vincent Pallotti )
  • Salesians of Don Bosco (St. John Bosco ) and the Don Bosco family
  • Missionaries of St.. Francis de Sales (Pierre -Marie Mermier )
  • Community of the hl. Francis de Sales ( daughters, priests and sons ) ( Henri Chaumont, Caroline Carré de Malberg )
  • Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate ( Henri Chaumont, Caroline Carré de Malberg and Gertrude Gros )
  • Secular Institute of St.. Francis (Franz Reisinger )
  • Oblate Sisters of St.. Francis de Sales ( Sel Louis Brisson, St. Leonie Aviat )
  • Oblates of St.. Francis de Sales ( Mary de Sales Chappuis, Sel. Brisson )
  • Daughters of St.. Francis of Lugo (founded in 1872 by Carlo Cavina )
  • Friedrich Joseph Haass, the "holy Doctor of Moscow"
  • Giuseppe Cesare and Giuli ( founded 1872, the " Congregation of St.. Josef and St.. St. Francis de Sales for the deaf and dumb ", today known as the " Congregation of the Fathers of the Little Mission for the Deaf and Dumb " )
  • Father Joseph Kentenich (1885-1968)
  • Sisters of St.. Francis de Sales (founded in 1740 by Domenico Leonati )
  • St. Filippo Smaldone (1848-1923, founded in 1885, the " Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart " for the education of deaf children )
  • Sel. Gabriela de Hinojosa and the Seven Martyrs of Madrid
  • Sel. John XXIII.
  • John Paul I.

Geographical names

  • Saint -François Atoll, an eponymous archipelago of the Seychelles
Château de Sales Christian mysticism Calvinism Flyer (pamphlet) Henry IV of France Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy Memorial (liturgy) Congregation of the Mission Pallottines Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales Marie de Sales Chappuis Heinrich Steinfest Graham Greene Integrated Authority File
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