By Chase Riecker, Special to The Message
Home parish: St. Isidore the Farmer Parish, Celestine
Education: Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Missouri; Class of 2027
Saint: St. Francis de Sales
Editor’s Note: This year, Diocesan seminarians focused their annual seminarian profiles on a saint or someone on the road to sainthood who gives them hope in honor of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567 in eastern France near the Swiss Alps. Both his parents were nobility and desired Francis to take over the family estate and enter into politics as a senator. After receiving a degree in law, Francis entered seminary and after his ordination was asked to go convert a deeply Calvinist territory. After many years, he successfully converted thousands to the Catholic faith and soon after was consecrated a bishop. He was renowned for his distinguished leadership, teaching, discipline and gentleness.
St. Francis de Sales has given me hope because he was convinced that he was predestined to hell as a teenager from listening to a Calvinist discussion. He was tormented for months and even became physically ill, incapable of leaving his bed. After praying to our Lady of Good Deliverance, he was freed from his discouragement and consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This has brought me hope because discouragement can easily lead to despair. St. Francis has given me hope because he has shown that saints also have their own trials not unlike our own. His story has shown me the necessity of resisting discouragement and giving my life entirely to God in great and small matters.
I believe St. Francis de Sales is a saint for all times and places and can serve as a source of hope for anyone looking to grow in devotion. In his many letters, de Sales constantly speaks of growing in holiness in everyday life and being faithful in small matters. Great holiness is not a vocation limited to a small number of great men, but is a universal calling and can be lived here and now in every state of life.