MEMORIAL: JANUARY 24
St. Francis de Sales was born into a wealthy family in the 16th century in Switzerland. At a young age, he knew that he had a vocation to serve God in the priesthood. Upon becoming a priest, he worked to convert many Calvinist protestants back to Catholicism. He would walk door to door, leaving simple explanations of the Catholic faith.
St. Francis also met Jane de Chantal whom he eventually directed spiritually. Both ended up becoming saints. From that time on, St. Francis was concerned with the holiness of all people: lay, religious, and ordained. He wrote many letters that gave many people from all walks of life spiritual direction. In his famous work, Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis compiled these letters. He was Bishop and named a doctor of the Church after his canonization. He is the patron saint of the deaf and Catholic writers.
