Saint Francis de Sales was proclaimed doctor of the Church in 1877 by Pope Pius IX, and Pope Pius XI made him the patron saint of Catholic writers and journalists in 1923, in reference to his extensive use of printed books and booklets during his apostolate. Not only was he a wonderful spiritual writer: his canonization process attests that he performed many miracles; he cured many people, and even resurrected some. He converted thousands of protestants to the true Faith of Christ. By these extraordinary signs, that only a few saints were able to perform, God has shown us how great a doctor he was for the whole Church.  

Saint Francis’ main doctrine was that not only priests and religious ought to be saints: he famously said it is a heresy to say that devotion and sanctity belongs only for the cloister. We believe with him that lay people ought to perfect themselves, and know better their religion. He also said that, having to deal with protestants all the time, he never had any doubts about the Faith, because his love of God was so intense that he could not be troubled or deceived by heretical reasonings. It is a reminder for anyone who studies against false doctrines that charity has the last word: a true soldier of Christ is not only a man of doctrine, but above all a man of piety and charity.

He was renowned for his outstanding meekness. People jokingly said of him that in order to become his friend, you should insult him or hurt him in some way, because he will be even nicer to you than if you had done nothing. This fact is even more striking when we consider that Saint Francis had a fiery choleric temperament: he became the absolute master at dominating and mortifying his own impulses for the love of God and of the neighbor. His writings are marked by a particular tone of tenderness and sweetness, both towards God and towards his fellow human beings; he seems to speak to you as a dear friend, touching you deep in the heart.

We hope to find in Saint Francis a model and a protector in all our works. May he direct them all to the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.