A Favorite Saint: Francis de Sales

Have patience with all things, but first with yourself.  Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being.  You are a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist.  And no amount of triumphs and tribulations can ever change that.

St. Francis de Sales has always been one of my favorite saints.  Priest, bishop, spiritual counselor, and Doctor of the Church, he is known as the "gentleman saint," and patron of the hearing impaired, writers, and journalists.

The very reason he is one of my favorites is because of his writings.  They are beautiful, flowing, loving, encouraging.  In an effort to draw people back to the church, he wrote and dispersed religious leaflets; as spiritual counselor to many, he wrote volumes of letters to individuals.  He was eventually persuaded to gather his teachings into a book, Introduction to the Devout Life.  It was meant as a guide for ordinary citizens, direction as to how to be pious and peaceful in our daily lives. The love, simplicity, and wisdom of his words had a profound impact not only on my life, but on millions of others through history.

He was eloquent.  He wrote with purpose and conviction.  His words made an impact that has resounded through the ages.  As a writer, what more could I wish for?  

He was kind and gentle, encouraging and faithful.  He worked tirelessly for the good of all and most importantly, he loved.  He made a positive difference.  As a human being, what more could I hope to achieve?

​Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us.