Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of
the Church
(Hebrews 8:6-13; Mark3:13-19)
Mark, the evangelist, describes Jesus’ choosing his apostles
with discretion and formality. He
summons not everyone who desires the office but those he wants. He does not ordain them anywhere but on a
mountain. This arrangement indicates the
importance of the apostles. They will not only preach the kingdom of God to the
nations but also will form the framework of his Church.
Today the church celebrates a man who was in the line of these
apostles. Francis de Sales was bishop of
Geneva during the time of the Protestant Reformation. Like all bishops, Francis was ordained in a
direct line of succession from the apostles.
Again, as all bishops he was given the solemn duty of maintaining the
faith of the apostles. And like all
others Francis provided the sacraments which Christ instituted to maintain a
physical presence in his Church.
Francis is portrayed in descriptions of the saints as an
affable man with a desire to reach out to those who left the Church and to
uplift those who remained faithful Catholics.
It is said that his preaching converted many protestants while his book Introduction
to the Devout Life deepened the spirituality of many laypersons.
