Francis de Sales, << saylz, >> Saint (1567-1622), was a French nobleman who became a Roman Catholic saint. He attended the College of Clermont in Paris. There he became so devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary that he took a vow of chastity (purity) and dedicated himself to her service. After becoming a doctor of law in Padua, Italy, he entered the priesthood in 1593. In 1602, he became bishop of Geneva, Switzerland. He and Saint Jane de Chantal established the Visitation Order for the purposes of teaching and caring for the sick. Francis wrote many spiritual books, the most popular of which is An Introduction to the Devout Life (1609). He was born in Thorens in Savoy, France, on Aug. 21, 1567. He died on Dec. 28, 1622. His feast day is January 24.
