January 24th- St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor, Third Order Secular Franciscan Founder

 S. Francisci Salesii Episcopi Confessoris Ecclesiae Doctoris

Born at the Château de Sales in Thorens, Savoy, August 21, 1567; died in Lyons, France, December 28, 1622; formally beatified the same year (1622) in Saint Peter's Basilica (the first solemn beatification to occur there); canonized 1665; named a Doctor of the Church in 1877; declared patron saint of journalists and the Catholic press in 1923; feast day formerly on January 29. Francis de Sales was a prolific writer and his books are well known. He began as a Franciscan Tertiary. He went on to found the Society of St. Frances de Sales. St. Don Bosco (another who started out as a Third Order Secular Franciscan) went on to found the Salesians in the 19th century as a response, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution in Italy. St. Don Bosco's Feast Day is January 31st.

Collect of the Day

O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of wisdom, to others the world of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Francis de Sales, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Litany of St. Francis de Sales

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
O God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us
O Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us. *

St. Francis de Sales, *
St. Francis, miracle of the most august Trinity, *
St. Francis, faithful imitator of Jesus Christ, *
St. Francis, attached to the the service of the Blessed Virgin, *
St. Francis, practicing the virtues of the Saints, *
St. Francis, most devote to Jesus crucified, *
St. Francis, august tabernacle of true religion, *
St. Francis, most humble in prosperity, *
St. Francis, most patient in adversity, *
St. Francis, true portrait of the meekness of Christ, *
St. Francis, simple as the dove, *
St. Francis, example of angelic modesty, *
St. Francis, exact observer of evangelic poverty, *
St. Francis, excellent example of the purity of angels, *
St. Francis, ever obedient to the Apostolic See, *
St. Francis, generously despising the world, *
St. Francis, powerful vanquisher of demons, *
St. Francis, invincible triumpher over the flesh, *
St. Francis, inflamed with the love of God, *
St. Francis, abounding in virtues, *
St. Francis, all to all for the salvation of souls, *
St. Francis, most dear to God, and beloved by men, *
St. Francis, unwearied apostle of Geneva and its territory, *
which thou didst so laboriously reunite to the one true Church of God, *
St. Francis, most fervent pastor, ever careful to lead thy flock to the fold of Jesus the Good Shepherd, *
St. Francis, most renowned for thy miracles, *
St. Francis, greatest of all thy miracles, *
St. Francis, patriarch of the Visitation, *
St. Francis, continual martyr to thy love of God, *
St. Francis, father of many Saints, by the holy rules which thou hast left for every state, *
St. Francis, powerful protector to obtain of God that mildness which preserves the peace of the heart, *
St. Francis, amiable patron of those who invoke thee, *


Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.


O Blessed Francis, like the fruitful olive-tree in the house of God, radiant in miracles, make us partakers of thy sanctity and of the light which thou enjoyest.

V. Pray for us, Blessed Francis of Sales.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us pray:

O God, by whose gracious will the Blessed Francis, thy confessor and bishop, became all things unto all men, for the saving of their souls, mercifully grant that, being filled with the sweetness of thy love, we may, through the guidance of his counsels, and by the aid of his merits, attain unto the joys of life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen