"Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly." (St. Francis de Sales)St. Francis de Sales was born near Annecy in Savoy, France in 1567. At age 13, he believed he was damned to Hell and by 1586 he became physically ill. It wasn't until a visit to a church in southern France a year later, that things changed for the better and St. Francis de Sales decided to devote his life to God.
Among the places where he studied was at the University of Padua in Italy and while there, he decided to become a priest.
St. Francis de Sales is recognized for his spiritual writings and working to convert Protestants back to the Catholic faith. In order to help a deaf man, he created a sign language. Hence he is the patron saint of the deaf.
St. Francis de Sales is also the patron saint of journalists.
He died in 1622 and is buried at the Basilica of the Visitation in Annecy. The relic of his heart is in Venice. Canonized: 1665.
Perhaps my favorite of his sayings is: "Make friends with angels, who though invisible are always with you."
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