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(b), of the Crucifix ; (c) of the Sign of the Cross ; (d), an
explanation of the Veneration of the Cross. (3) "An
Introduction to the Devout Life", a work intended to
lead " Philothea", the soul living in the world, into
the paths of devotion, that is to say, of true and solid
piety. Every one should strive to become pious, and
" it IS an error, it is even a heresy", to hold that piety
is incompatible with any state of life. In the first
part the author helps the soul to free itself from all
inclination to, or affection for, sin; in the second, he
teaches it how to be imited to God by prayer and the
sacraments ; in the third, he exercises it in the practice
of virtue; in the fourth, he strengthens it against
temptation; in the fifth, he teaches it how to form its
resolutions and to persevere. The "Introduction",
which is a masterpiece of psychology, practical
morality, and common sense, was translated into
nearly every language even in the lifetime of the
author, and it has smce gone through innumerable
editions. (4) "Treatise on the Love of God", an
authoritative work which reflects perfectly the mind
and heart of Francis de Sales as a great genius and a
great saint. It contains twelve books. The first
four give us a history, or rather explain the theory,
of Divine love, its birth in the soul, its growth, its per-
fection, and its decay and aimihilation ; the fifth book
shows that this love is twofold — the love of compla-
cency and the love of benevolence; the sixth and
seventh treat of affective love, which is practised in
prayer; the eighth and ninth deal with effective love,
that is, with conformity to the will of God, and sub-
mission to His good pleasure. The last three resume
what has preceded and teach how to apply practically
the lessons taught therein. (5) "Spiritual Con-
ferences"; familiar conversations on religious virtues
addressed to the sisters of the Visitation and collected
by them. We find in them that practical common
sense, keenness of perception, and delicacy of feeling
which were characteristic of the kind-hearted and
energetic Saint. (6) "Sermons". — These are divided
into two classes: those composed previously to his
consecration as bishop, and which he himself wrote
out in full ; and the discourses he delivered when a
bishop, of which, as a rule, only outlines and synopses
have been preserved. Some of the latter, however,
were taken down in extenso by his hearers. Pius IX,
in his Bull proclaiming him Doctor of the Church,
calls the Saint "The Master and Restorer of Sacred
Eloquence". He is one of those who at the beginning
of the seventeenth century formed the beautiful
French language; he foreshadows and prepares the
way for the great sacred orators about to appear.
He speaks simply, naturally, and from his heart. To
speak well we need only love well, was his maxim.
His mind was imbued with the Holy Writings, which
he comments, and explains, and applies practically
with no less accuracy than grace. (7) "Letters",
mostly letters of direction, in which the minister of
God effaces himself and teaches the soul to listen to
God, the only true director. The advice given is
suited to all the circumstances and necessities of life
and to all persons of good will. While trying to
efface his own personality in these letters, the saint
makes himself known to us and unconsciously dis-
covers to us the treasures of his soul. (8) A large
number of very precious treatises or opuscula.
Migne (5 vols., quarto) and Vivos (12 vols., octavo, Paris) have edited the works of St. Francis de Sales. But the edition which we may call definitive was published at Annecy in 1892, by the English Bene- dictine, Dom Mackey: a work remarkable for its typo- graphical execution, the brilliant criticism that settles the text, the large quantity of hitherto unedited matter, and the interesting study accompanying each volume. Dom Mackey published twelve volumes. Father Navatel, S.J., is continuing the work. We may give here a brief r&um6 of the spiritual teaching
contained in these works, of which the Church has
said: "The writings of Francis de Sales, filled with
celestial doctrine are a bright light in the Church,
pointing out to souls an easy and safe way to arrive
at the perfection of a Christian life." (Breviarium
Romanum, 29 January, lect. VI.)
There are two elements in the spiritual life: first, a struggle against our lower nature ; secondly, union of our wills with God, in other words, penance and love. St. Francis de Sales looks chiefly to love. Not that he neglects penance, which is absolutely necessary, but he wishes it to be practised from a motive of love. He requires mortification of the senses, but he relies first on mortification of the mind, the will, and the heart. This interior mortification he requires to be unceasing and always accompanied by love. The end to be realized is a life of loving, simple, generous, and con- stant fidelity to the will of God, which is nothing else than our present duty. The model proposed is Christ, whom we must ever keep before our eyes. "You will study His countenance, and perform your actions as He did" (Introd., 2nd part, ch. i). The practical means of arriving at this perfection are: remembrance of the presence of C!otl, filial prayer, a right intention in all our actions, and frequent re- couree to God by pious and confiding ejaculations and interior aspirations.
Besides the Institute of the Visitation, which he founded, the nineteenth century has seen associations of the secular clergy and of pious laymen, and several religious congregations, formed under the patronage of the holy Doctor. Among them we may mention the Missionaries of St. FVancis de Sales, of Annecy; the Salesians, founded at Turin by the Venerable Don Bosco, specially devoted to the Christian and technical education of the children of the poorer classes; the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, established at Troyes (France) by Father Brisson, who try to realize in the religious and priestly life the spirit of the holy Doctor, such as we have described it, and such as he be- queathed it to the nuns of the Visitation.
Mackey, (Euvres de St Francois de Sales (Annecy, 1S92 — ); CliARLEa-AuGUSTE DE SALES, Hisloire du Bicnheurcux Francois de Sales (2nd ed., Paris, 1885); Camus, Esprit de S. Francois de Sates (2d ed., Paris, 1833): and in Collection S. Hotiore d'Ej/lau (Paris, 1904); Vie de S. Francois de Sates by Hamon (Paris); Pbuennes (Paris); de Margbrie (Paris); Strowski, SI Francois de Sales (Paris); Annates Salrsiennes in Reim Men- suclle (Paris, 1906, etc.). Mackey has given an English trans- lation of the Letters to Persons in the World, and of the Letters to Persons in Religion (London); he has also published noteworthy articles on St. Francis de Sales as an Orator (London) and >S/. Francis de Sales as a Director in Am. Eccl. liev. (1898).
Raphael Pernin.
Francis of Assisi, Saint, founder of the Francis- can Order, b. at Assisi in Umbria, in llSl or 1182 — the exact year is uncertain ; d. there, 3 October, 122G. His father, Pietro Bernardone, was a wealthy Assisian cloth merchant. Of his mother, Pica, little is known, but she is said to have belonged to a noble family of Provence. Francis Wixs one of several children. The legend that he was born in a stable dates from the fifteenth century only, and apjiears to have originated in the desire of certain writers to make his life resem- ble that of Christ. At baptism the saint received the name of Giovanni, which his father afterwards altered to Francesco, through fondness it would seem for PVance, whither business had led him at the time of his son's birth. In any ca.se, since (ho cliild wa.s re- named in infancy, the change can hardly have had anything to do with his aptitude for learning French, as some have thought. Francis received some elemen- tary instruction from the priests of St. George's at Assisi, though he learned more perhaps in the school of the Troubadours, who were just then making for refinement in Italy. However this may be, he was not very studious, and his literary education remained incomplete. Although associated with his father in trade, he showed little Uking for a merchant's career,
