Francis de Sales

Religious Leader

1567 – 1622

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Who was Francis de Sales?

Francis de Sales, C.O., T.O.M., A.O.F.M. Cap. was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God.

Famous Quotes:

  • Do not wish to be anything except what you are.
  • Marital intercourse is certainly holy, lawful and praiseworthy in itself and profitable to society, yet in certain circumstances it can prove dangerous, as when through excess the soul is made sick with venial sin, or through the violation and perversion of its primary end, killed by mortal sin; such perversion, detestable in proportion to its departure from the true order, being always mortal sin, for it is never lawful to exclude the primary end of marriage which is the procreation of children.
  • If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed.
  • Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew -
  • While I am busy with little things, I am not required to do greater things.
  • You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving.
  • Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.
  • It is the mark of a mean, vulgar and ignoble spirit to dwell on the thought of food before meal times or worse to dwell on it afterwards, to discuss it and wallow in the remembered pleasures of every mouthful. Those whose minds dwell before dinner on the spit, and after on the dishes, are fit only to be scullions.
  • There are no galley-slaves in the royal vessel of divine love -- every man works his oar voluntarily!
  • Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone.

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Born
Aug 16, 1567
Château de Sales
Also known as
  • St. Francis de Sales
Parents
Religion
  • Catholicism
Nationality
  • Italy
  • France
Profession
Education
  • Lycée Louis-le-Grand
  • University of Padua
  • University of Paris
Lived in
  • Savoy
Died
Dec 28, 1622
Lyon

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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