He concerned himself with the reform of monasteries, and the catechesis of the young. He was tireless in visiting his 450 parishes he organised the further formation of his clergy, proclaiming that learning was the eighth sacrament for a priest. Francis, Prince-bishop of Genevaįrancis was ordained bishop on 8 December 1602 and became the good shepherd amongst his people. Francis accomplished this task in nine months. In 1602 he journeyed to Paris to organise the restoration of Catholic worship in the Gex area, part of his diocese and now reverted to French jurisdiction. His bishop sent him to Rome on diocesan business and on 24 March 1599 he was appointed coadjutor bishop at the age of thirty-one. He preached with courage, and his technique of patient dialogue and prayer was to prove a determining factor in the return of Thonon and Chablais to the Catholic faith.
His early years of priesthood in the Calvinistic district of Chablais were largely coloured, perforce, by extraordinary missionary controversy. He was appointed to the chair of the Annecy cathedral chapter, and was ordained priest on 18 December 1593. Our studious young man showed no interest in the prestigious betrothal and political office offered to him, and thus dismayed his father who had nursed visions of social grandeur for his firstborn. He was a gifted young man: of brilliant intellect, persevering, purposeful, serene, affable, irresistibly charming, and above all, consumed with the love of God.įrancis the priest: pastor and missionary During these years he also studied theology. Francis' studies were lengthy and were accomplished in three stages: college studies at la Roche and Annecy (where his priestly vocation was born) then at the Jesuit college in Paris and finally at Padua, where in 1591 he obtained his doctorate in civil and canon law. There were twelve children born to the family, five of whom died soon after their birth. His father was forty-four, and his mother fifteen. He was the firstborn child of Francis and Frances De Boisy.
Chapter 1: Main Events in the Life of Francis de Salesįrancis was born on 21 August 1567 in the family castle of Sales, in Thorens in the duchy of upper Savoy.
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