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Saint Francis de Sales (in French , '''St François de Sales''') (1567-1622), Seventeenth-century Bishop of Geneva and Roman Catholic Saint , was born at Thorens into a Savoy ard noble family on 21 August 1567 . After studying the humanities, Rhetoric , Theology , and Law at La Roche , Annecy , Paris , and Padua , he famously refused to marry the wealthy heiress his father had chosen as his bride, preferring a clerical career. The intervention of Claude De Granier , then Bishop of Geneva , won him Ordination and appointment as Provost of the cathedral chapter of Geneva in 1593 . Since the Reformation , the seat of the bishops of Geneva had been located at Annecy in Savoy , due to Calvinist control of Geneva itself. Francis, in his capacity as provost, engaged in enthusiastic campaigns of evangelism among the Protestants of Savoy, winning many returns to the Old Faith. He also traveled to Rome and Paris , where he forged alliances with Pope Clement VIII and the French King Henry IV . In 1602 , Bishop Granier died, and Francis was consecrated bishop of Geneva himself. During his years as bishop, he garnished a reputation as a spellbinding preacher and something of an Ascetic ; in particular, he was known as a friend of the poor, a man of almost supernatural affability and understanding. These last qualities come through wonderfully in his famous books. He died on 28 December 1622 in Lyon , while he travelled in the entourage of Charles Emmanuel I , Duke of Savoy. Francis of Sales was Beatified in 1661 by Pope Alexander VII , who then Canonized him in 1665 . His feast day is January 24 . In 1877 , Pope Pius IX declared him a Doctor Of The Universal Church . In 1923 Pope Pius XI proclaimed him a patron of writers and journalists, because of the books he wrote, the most famous of which was ''Introduction à la vie dévote'' (" Introduction To The Devout Life "). He also left the mystical ''Traité de l' Amour de Dieu'' (" Treatise On The Love Of God ") and many highly valued epistles of spiritual direction. He was a notably clear and gracious stylist in French , Italian and Latin . St Francis de Sales is buried at the Basilica of the Visitation , Annecy. Many Miracles have been reported at his Shrine . The Relic of his heart was kept at Lyons , whence during the French Revolution it was moved to Venice , where it is venerated today. Along with Saint Jane Frances De Chantal , Francis founded the women's Order Of The Visitation Of Holy Mary in Annecy on 6 June 1610 . The Order of the Salesians Of Don Bosco , founded by St John Bosco in 1859 (approved by the Holy See in 1874 ), is named after him. Likewise the Oblates Of St. Francis De Sales (OSFS), founded by Louis Brisson . François de Sales is recognized as exemplary in the Church Of England , where his ''memoria'' is also on January 24. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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