Bishop and Doctor of the Church · Feast day January 24
St. Francis de Sales
The feast day of St. Francis de Sales is January 24, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Traditionally invoked as patron of writers and journalists. Below: a short life and 4 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | January 24 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Bishop and Doctor of the Church |
| Died | 1622 |
| Patron of | writers, journalists |
| In their own words | 4 sourced quotations · 2 attributed sayings (source unconfirmed) |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Bishop of Geneva in the bitter years after the Reformation, he won back the Chablais not with armies but with tracts slipped under doors and unfailing courtesy, sure that gentleness wins more hearts than harshness ever could.
His Introduction to the Devout Life taught laypeople that holiness belongs to every state of life, not only the cloister. He is the patron of writers and journalists.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Francis de Sales as patron of writers and journalists.
Saints with the same patronage
- St. Paulwriters · June 29
- St. John the Apostlewriters · December 27
- St. Maximilian Kolbejournalists · August 14
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.
Devotion must be practiced in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the unmarried girl, and by the married woman.
Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.
Attributed, source unconfirmed
These sayings circulate under the saint’s name, but no source has been confirmed. Bless shows them with that label.
Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.
The measure of love is to love without measure.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Francis de Sales’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not turn away, for I am your God. I have strengthened you, and I have assisted you, and the right hand of my just one has upheld you.
Isaiah 41:10 · CPDV Beside their words: “Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them…”
On this theme
Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.”
Matthew 6:34 · CPDV Beside their words: “Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them…”
On this theme
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29 · CPDV Beside their words: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
And he said to them, “Go out alone, into a deserted place, and rest for a little while.” For there were so many who were coming and going, that they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 6:31 · CPDV Beside their words: “Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full…”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 · CPDV Beside their words: “Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full…”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another.
John 13:34 · CPDV Beside their words: “The measure of love is to love without measure.”
On this theme
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh.
Romans 8:1 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.”
On this theme
However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.
1 Corinthians 7:17 · CPDV Beside their words: “Devotion must be practiced in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by…”
4 more verses
On this theme
But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance, meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things.
Galatians 5:22–23 · CPDV Beside their words: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
So may you be able to embrace, with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and depth of the charity of Christ, and even be able to know that which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:18–19 · CPDV Beside their words: “The measure of love is to love without measure.”
On this theme
Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience.
Colossians 3:12 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.”
On this theme
Just as each of you has received grace, minister in the same way to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10 · CPDV Beside their words: “Devotion must be practiced in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by…”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Francis de Sales. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Francis de Sales keeps January 24 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of January.
All the saints of January Born on January 24? A saint for every day
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