St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and journalists, was a great saint of the Catholic reformation who wrote beautifully on cultivating the spiritual life of the laity.

He was born in France in 1567, the oldest of thirteen children, and received a nobleman's education of the highest caliber. His father expected him to learn gentlemanly arts such as riding and fencing in addition to his studies in the liberal arts. While attending college in Paris, Francis attended a theological lecture on predestination, Francis fell into despair, as he became convinced that he was damned. Nearly three years later, while finishing his studies in Paris, Francis dragged himself to a church and prayed the "Memorare" before a famous statue of Mary.

Shortly thereafter, Francis enrolled at the University of Padua for doctorates in both theology and law. He returned home to Savoy, working as a lawyer and obediently accepting the positions that his father secured for him. But he refused to marry, as his father wished. He signed over his inheritance to his younger brother and was ordained in 1593.

The bishop, knowing Francis’ eloquence and intelligence, sent him to the Swiss city of Geneva, which was controlled by Calvinists, who were hostile to the Catholic faith. Francis trudged through the surrounding area on a mission to convert the Protestant citizens, but the people slammed doors in his face and threw stones at him. In the bitterly cold winters, his feet froze so badly they would bleed. He slept in haylofts when he could, and once he had to tie himself in a tree in order to sleep safely out of the reach of wolves. He was so frozen when he woke that he could not untie himself and had to be cut down. After three years of enduring many trials, Francis had still not made headway in the Calvinist community.

Because no one would open their door to him, Francis began to write clear, simple explanations of the Catholic faith by hand and slide them under doors. Slowly, as people saw his gentle disposition, his simple lifestyle, and heard him speak, they began to listen. By the time he left for home, Francis had converted 40,000 Genevans.

Francis soon became known for his wisdom and insight, and many people wrote him asking for his advice and counsel. He responded to each of these letters with individual attention—essentially offering spiritual direction by correspondence—and especially attended to the uneducated laborers of his day. Some of his letters were collected in the book, The Introduction to the Devout Life, which is still in print today.

Francis de Sales died in 1622 and was named a Doctor of the Church, a title given to thirty-seven saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. He is a patron saint of journalists and writers, and he is also a patron of deaf people because he used sign language to catechize people with hearing impairment.

Some of St. Francis' relics rest in the reliquary chapel of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus, and his story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.

St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists—pray for us!

The illustration above and to the left is by Julie Lonneman and used with permission.