About Today
Saturday 24 January 2026
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor
on Saturday of week 2 in Ordinary Time
Christ is the chief shepherd, the leader of his flock: come, let us adore him.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: White.
St Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622)
He was born near Annecy, in Savoy, studied the law, and was ordained to the priesthood despite the opposition of his father. His first mission was to re-evangelize the people of his home district (the Chablais), who had gone over to Calvinism. Always in danger of his life from hostile Calvinists, he preached with such effectiveness that after four years most of the people had returned to the Church. He was then appointed bishop of Geneva, and spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganising the diocese, and in caring for the souls of his people by preaching and spiritual guidance.
St Francis taught that we can all attain a devout and spiritual life, whatever our position in society: holiness is not reserved for monks and hermits alone. He wrote that “religious devotion does not destroy: it perfects,” and his spiritual counsel is dedicated to making people more holy by making them more themselves. In his preaching against Calvinism he was driven by love rather than a desire to win: so much so, that it was a Calvinist minister who said “if we honoured anyone as a saint, I know of no-one since the days of the Apostles more worthy of it than this man.”
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor
Gospel: John 15:9-17
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.’
Reflection on the painted prayer card collage
Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was born into a noble family in the Duchy of Savoy, he was initially groomed for a life of power and privilege. However, he felt a strong calling to the priesthood, despite his family’s objections. After studying law and theology at the University of Padua, he was ordained a priest. His mission began in the Calvinist stronghold of Chablais, where his compassionate approach and persuasive writings led many back to Catholicism. Renowned for his dedication to the spiritual needs of the people, Francis emphasised God’s love and the importance of personal holiness, appealing to both the learned and the uneducated.
Appointed Bishop of Geneva in 1602, a role he carried out from Annecy due to the Protestant occupation of Geneva, Francis de Sales became known as a shepherd who led by example. He co-founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary with Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, a congregation dedicated to helping women live a devout life outside the constraints of cloistered monasticism. His seminal work, Introduction to the Devout Life, remains a spiritual classic, offering practical guidance on achieving holiness in everyday life. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877, Francis is revered as the patron saint of writers, journalists, and those seeking patience and humility.
Saint Francis de Sales did not found the Salesian Order of Don Bosco, even though they carry his name. The Salesian Order (officially the Society of Saint Francis de Sales) was founded much later, in 1859, by Saint John Bosco in Turin. Don Bosco deliberately placed his congregation under the patronage of Saint Francis de Sales, because he wanted his priests and educators to imitate Francis’ approach.
I share with you an 18th century prayer card, further embellished in the 19th century. The history of prayer cards depicting saints dates back several centuries, with their origins rooted in the broader tradition of devotional imagery in Catholic Europe. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, elaborately crafted prayer cards became a popular means of inspiring spiritual devotion. These images were often composed of cut and reassembled prints, adorned with vivid paint, fabric, and other decorative materials, such as lace and silk in our present example. Far from being simple creations of amateur artisans, many of these works were professionally produced by dedicated workshops, particularly in regions such as Antwerp and Southern Germany. Their richly coloured and multi-textured designs were crafted to captivate the senses, stimulating both optical and tactile engagement.
Saint Francis de Sales,
Anonymous, 18th century,
Mixed media with hand-coloured engraving, fabric, lace, and paint and ink on paper
© Metropolitan Museum, New York
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor
on Saturday of week 2 in Ordinary Time
Christ is the chief shepherd, the leader of his flock: come, let us adore him.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: White.
St Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622)
He was born near Annecy, in Savoy, studied the law, and was ordained to the priesthood despite the opposition of his father. His first mission was to re-evangelize the people of his home district (the Chablais), who had gone over to Calvinism. Always in danger of his life from hostile Calvinists, he preached with such effectiveness that after four years most of the people had returned to the Church. He was then appointed bishop of Geneva, and spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganising the diocese, and in caring for the souls of his people by preaching and spiritual guidance.
St Francis taught that we can all attain a devout and spiritual life, whatever our position in society: holiness is not reserved for monks and hermits alone. He wrote that “religious devotion does not destroy: it perfects,” and his spiritual counsel is dedicated to making people more holy by making them more themselves. In his preaching against Calvinism he was driven by love rather than a desire to win: so much so, that it was a Calvinist minister who said “if we honoured anyone as a saint, I know of no-one since the days of the Apostles more worthy of it than this man.”
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor
Gospel: John 15:9-17
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.’
Reflection on the painted prayer card collage
Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was born into a noble family in the Duchy of Savoy, he was initially groomed for a life of power and privilege. However, he felt a strong calling to the priesthood, despite his family’s objections. After studying law and theology at the University of Padua, he was ordained a priest. His mission began in the Calvinist stronghold of Chablais, where his compassionate approach and persuasive writings led many back to Catholicism. Renowned for his dedication to the spiritual needs of the people, Francis emphasised God’s love and the importance of personal holiness, appealing to both the learned and the uneducated.
Appointed Bishop of Geneva in 1602, a role he carried out from Annecy due to the Protestant occupation of Geneva, Francis de Sales became known as a shepherd who led by example. He co-founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary with Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, a congregation dedicated to helping women live a devout life outside the constraints of cloistered monasticism. His seminal work, Introduction to the Devout Life, remains a spiritual classic, offering practical guidance on achieving holiness in everyday life. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877, Francis is revered as the patron saint of writers, journalists, and those seeking patience and humility.
Saint Francis de Sales did not found the Salesian Order of Don Bosco, even though they carry his name. The Salesian Order (officially the Society of Saint Francis de Sales) was founded much later, in 1859, by Saint John Bosco in Turin. Don Bosco deliberately placed his congregation under the patronage of Saint Francis de Sales, because he wanted his priests and educators to imitate Francis’ approach.
I share with you an 18th century prayer card, further embellished in the 19th century. The history of prayer cards depicting saints dates back several centuries, with their origins rooted in the broader tradition of devotional imagery in Catholic Europe. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, elaborately crafted prayer cards became a popular means of inspiring spiritual devotion. These images were often composed of cut and reassembled prints, adorned with vivid paint, fabric, and other decorative materials, such as lace and silk in our present example. Far from being simple creations of amateur artisans, many of these works were professionally produced by dedicated workshops, particularly in regions such as Antwerp and Southern Germany. Their richly coloured and multi-textured designs were crafted to captivate the senses, stimulating both optical and tactile engagement.
Saint Francis de Sales,
Anonymous, 18th century,
Mixed media with hand-coloured engraving, fabric, lace, and paint and ink on paper
© Metropolitan Museum, New York