Today, the great Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, marks the 15th anniversary of marriage to my wonderful wife, Jeanne. Pondering our anniversary I am reminded of some of those great men and women saints whose holy friendships have so profoundly influenced the Church and the world: Augustine and Monica; Benedict and Scholastica; Francis and Clare. God, in His inscrutable providence, often pairs up individuals who will inspire and even incite one another to ever higher degrees of humility, charity, and ultimately sanctity which overflows into love of God and neighbor. I hereby share with you a brief sketch of two of these holy collaborators who lived in very difficult times, not unlike those that we are experiencing in today’s Church and world.

St. Francis de Sales  (1567-1622)

Francis was born to a noble family in Savoy in the southeast corner of France on August 21, 1567, the eldest of six sons. Studying theology in Paris he was came under a spiritual temptation to despair from which he was freed after making a vow of perpetual chastity and consecrating himself to the Blessed Mother Mary. He then went to Padua to take a law degree in 1591, returning to Savoy where a prosperous career awaited him. His father had even arranged an advantageous marriage for him. Instead, under the direction of his Jesuit spiritual director, Francis revealed his intention to enter the priesthood which caused a serious rift with his father. Francis patiently worked to convince his father of his true vocation who finally yielded, but only after the Bishop of Geneva obtained a papal patronage position for the young man. Francis was then allowed to be ordained in 1593.

Geneva was at the very center of Calvinist Protestantism so the Catholic bishopric had relocated to Annecy, some 20 miles away. In the second year of his priesthood Francis volunteered as a missionary to Le Chablais which had succumbed to the Calvinist doctrine. At great risk to his own life Francis began the daunting task of bringing the district back to the Catholic faith, even confounding Calvinist preachers sent out from Geneva. Several attempts against his life failed. By his heroic patience, kindness, and perseverance the young priest slowly began winning the hearts and minds of his listeners. For those who would not hear him he printed little tracts on the truths of the faith which he would slip under the household doors.