Saint of the Day, January 24

Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622), bishop of Geneva and founder, with Jane de Chantal, of the Visitation Sisters, recovered some 60,000 Calvinists to Catholic faith through sheer gentleness during the missions of the Chablais. His Introduction to the Devout Life remains one of the most printed spiritual books in any language: it insisted, against the assumptions of the age, that lay people in every walk of life are called to the heights of holiness. His Treatise on the Love of God taught a generation of mystics, including Vincent de Paul, John Bosco and Thérèse of Lisieux. Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church and Pius XI named him patron of writers and journalists.