St. Francis de Sales inspired many congregations to mercy
St. Francis de Sales not only patron of journalists, but inspirer of mercy and congregations
On the first day of the Jubilee of the world of communication, one cannot fail to mention St. Francis de Sales, who is not only the patron saint of journalists, but the bishop, the priest, and the saint who inspired the birth of so many religious congregations.
First among them is the Order of the Visitation of St. Mary, founded in 1610 with Jeanne-Françoise Frémyot, the widowed Baroness de Chantal who chose him as her spiritual guide and was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement XIII in 1767.
Formerly called “of the Visitandine,” it was a dream of St. Francis de Sales: a novelty and an alternative in the Church of that period (which allowed women desiring to consecrate themselves to God only one path: the cloistered and contemplative one).
Instead, the Bishop of Geneva wanted to start an Order that could bring tenderness into the world, following in the footsteps of Mary who visited Elizabeth, taking care of her needs. He did not quite succeed, but with his insight he certainly laid the foundation for its birth and spread.
Today, in fact, the Visitation has about 135 monasteries, grouped into 17 federations and present in 33 countries: the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, San Salvador, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo Brazzaville and Guinea eq., Lebanon and South Korea, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, and England.
Sisters of St. Francis de Sales (or Salesian Sisters)
Established in 1740, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis de Sales (or Salesias) was founded by Dominic Leonati and was concerned with the education of the poorest families. In Italy, they are found in Rome, Venice, Padua, etc.
The Congregation of the “Daughters of St. Francis de Sales”
Founded by Fr. Carlo Cavina, who worked in Lower Romagna from 1850 to 1880 during the period of the Risorgimento, this Congregation began with the collaboration of the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne Antida Thouret, who, on August 23, 1872, because of the priest’s devotion to the saint, took the name “Daughters of St. Francis de Sales.”
Their religious habit was very similar to that of the Visitandine; they had, in addition, the silver Salesian cross with the relic of St. Francis de Sales.
They were involved in the apostolate of prayer, education of youth (through school, cutting and sewing workshop and catechesis) and more and more young sisters were joining them.
In 1970, at the invitation and request of the Church, the first departures for the mission “ad gentes” began, and to this day, their communities are present in many parts of the world.
Also present in Lucca
The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales are also in Lucca, in the very old convent of St. Cerbone, which since 2021 is also home to spazio + spadoni.
Present since 1950, they restored it to its former glory by repairing the damage caused by World War II; today, they have made it a house of spirituality, prayer and meeting.
A long list
With an almost similar name, the Sisters of St. Francis de Sales (or Salesias) were born in 1740. The congregation was founded by Dominic Leonati and was concerned with the education of the poorest families. In Italy, they are found in Rome, Venice, Padua, etc.
The list of Congregations inspired by St. Francis de Sales is still long, a sign of the deep devotion of those who came after him. To give one example, many of the women’s Institutes that bear his name were not founded by him. Such is the case with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.
Then there are also male Institutes such as the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales of Annecy, the Oblates, and the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco for the Education of Boys.