St. Francis De Sales - Patron Saint of Deaf People

January 24th marks the feast of Saint Francis De Sales (1567 - 1622), bishop of Geneva. Among the various honors bestowed on this holy man, the Church calls him the "Patron Saint of the Deaf, in recognition of Francis’ work and devotion with deaf people, including his creation of a sign language" <http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/stfrancis.desales/patronsaint.html>.

An extremely learned man, Francis "earned a Doctorate in both Civil and Church Law. To the great disappointment of his father, Francis gave up a most promising civil career in favour of the priesthood....Francis was ordained a bishop of Geneva in 1602....His diocese became famous throughout Europe for its efficient organisation, zealous clergy and well-instructed laity....Francis’ fame as a spiritual director and writer grew. He was persuaded by others to collect, organise and expand on his many letters addressing spiritual subjects, and to publish them in 1609 under the title of the Introduction to the Devout Life. This became his most famous work and remains a spiritual classic found in bookstores throughout the world. But Francis’ special project was the writing of A Treatise on the Love of God....The enduring value and popularity of his writings led the Church to bestow on him the title Patron Saint of Catholic Writers....The church formally declared him to be a Saint in 1655 and in 1867 gave him the rare title of Doctor of the Church — a title conferred on fewer than 35 other saints in the history of the Church, all of whom are renowned for their writings....His ideals of moderation and charity, of gentleness and humility, of cheerfulness and abandonment to God’s will” <http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/stfrancis.desales/patronsaint.html>

Francis' "food was plain, his dress and his household simple. He completely dispensed with superfluities and lived with the greatest economy, in order to be able to provide more abundantly for the wants of the needy. He heard confessions, gave advice, and preached incessantly" <www.newadvent.org/cathen/06220a.htm>.