Why St. Francis de Sales Is My Hero…

St. Francis especially in his book, Introduction to the Devout Life taught me that holiness is for everyone; not just for a few saintly religious. God gave us all different vocations but none is exempt or precludes us from striving for holiness. To be true to any vocation means to conform oneself to Christ. We are all to imitate Him in our lives, especially as we “pick up our cross daily.” St. Francis calls all of us to the Love of God.

St. Francis de Sales has zoomed in and out of my life from a very young age. Along with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Sisters of the Visitation. My great aunt, Sister Mary Sulpice Offutt, VHM, was always one of my great favorites. She it was that introduced me to the writings of St. Francis de Sales and to his motto: Live Jesus!

I have always felt drawn to evangelization in a number of forms. Teaching the Catholic Faith to school children in the parish School of Religion, sharing the beauty of Catholicism with Mormon missionaries in my living room, sharing my faith experiences with those I meet at work and at home, instructing my own children in the faith. St. Francis de Sales was the gold standard of evangelization. With his preaching and leaflets, he brought over 70,000 Calvinists back home to the Catholic faith. In this desire to preach Christ, I feel particularly close to him.

Sister M. Sulpice Offutt, VHM