January 24, St. Francis de Sales

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. — Psalm 98:1

Mass Readings: Hebrews 9:15,24-28 / Mark 3:22-30

A Busy Saint 

Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), a scholar, bishop, and a prolific writer of books and letters. He wrote so much and so well that he’s the patron saint of journalists and writers. That makes him dear to my heart. 

St. Francis was a busy man. His schedule was always crammed. Popes and kings called for his services, but his greatest interest was showing ordinary people the way to holiness. His best-known book is Introduction to the Devout Life, one of the first books of spirituality addressed specifically to people leading active lives in the world. St. Francis believed that judging other people and gossiping about them were especially nasty sins. When we talk this way, he said, we tear down others in order to build up ourselves. 

Prayer: St. Francis de Sales, help me guard my tongue. I want to speak charitably at all times.